As we approach America’s 250th anniversary, we’re looking back at the revolutionaries who made it all possible. Women played a vital role in the fight for freedom, doing everything from managing farms and publishing radical works to serving as undercover spies. This Mother’s Day, join us as we highlight four incredible women whose contributions to independence have stood the test of time.
Abigail Adams (1744–1818)
One of the most influential women of the Revolutionary era, Abigail Adams served as an essential advisor and confidante to her husband, John Adams. During the war, she managed the family farm and finances, and her letters give insight into the struggles of the home front. She is perhaps best known for her "Remember the Ladies" letter, in which she urged her husband to consider women's rights in the new nation’s laws. She became First Lady in 1797 when John Adams was elected President, and her son would become the sixth president of the United States.
Nanye’hi (Nancy Ward) (c. 1738–c. 1823)
Known as a "Beloved Woman" of the Cherokee, Nanye’hi used her voice to advocate for peace during the American Revolution. After showing immense bravery on the battlefield, she was given a seat at the Cherokee Chief’s Council and led the Women’s Council. Respected by Cherokee and colonists alike, she encouraged harmony and participated in treaty negotiations. After marrying a British trader, she took the English name Nancy Ward and was in frequent contact with the colonists, sometimes warning them of attacks. Though she lived through an era of constant conflict, Nanye’hi would never give up her hope of peace between the Cherokee and the United States.
Elizabeth Freeman (c. 1744–1829)
While Americans were fighting for independence from Great Britain, Elizabeth Freeman bravely started a battle of her own. Born enslaved, she was determined to gain her freedom after overhearing the words of the new Massachusetts Constitution—phrases declaring that all people had the right to liberty. Seeking the help of an attorney, Freeman went to court and argued that the Constitution made slavery illegal. By winning her freedom, she helped end slavery in Massachusetts. Her historic victory served as a powerful reminder that independence belonged to everyone.
Mercy Otis Warren (1729–1814)
An activist, writer, and pamphleteer, Mercy Otis Warren famously used her pen to fight for independence. Encouraged by her family to be bold and curious, she began writing in support of the patriot cause while managing a household of five sons. Her Massachusetts home served as a frequent meeting place for revolutionaries, and she would go on to write a three-volume history of the American Revolution.