Abigail Adams: The First Lady Who Demanded “Remember the Ladies”
Abigail Adams was not only an early advocate for women’s rights but also a vital confidant and advisor to her husband John Adams, the nation’s second president. She opposed slavery and supported women’s education. From their earliest married days, the couple began an extensive correspondence that provides insight into the social and political climate of the Revolutionary and Early National periods. In 1776, as her husband participated in the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia, Adams wrote her most famous letter urging the Founding Fathers to “remember the ladies.”
As her husband increasingly traveled as a lawyer, political revolutionary, and diplomat, Abigail managed their farm and business affairs while raising the children. Although married women at this time had limited property rights, Adams began to refer to their property as hers and made investment decisions that enhanced the family’s prosperity. Historian Joseph Ellis calls her one of the most extraordinary women in American history.
Rosa Parks: The Quiet Revolutionary Who Sparked a Movement
Called “the mother of the civil rights movement,” Rosa Parks invigorated the struggle for racial equality when she refused to give up her bus seat to a white man in Montgomery, Alabama. Parks’ arrest on December 1, 1955 launched the Montgomery Bus Boycott by 17,000 black citizens. This single act of defiance became the catalyst for one of the most significant social justice movements in American history.
Rosa Parks became a civil rights icon when she refused to leave her bus seat for a white passenger in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955. Her courage in that moment wasn’t just about a bus seat—it was about human dignity and equality. Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat and set in motion one of the largest social movements in history, the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Sojourner Truth: The Powerful Voice for Freedom and Women’s Rights
A formerly enslaved woman, Sojourner Truth became an outspoken advocate for abolition, temperance, and civil and women’s rights in the nineteenth century. Her Civil War work earned her an invitation to meet President Abraham Lincoln in 1864. Truth was born Isabella Bomfree in Dutch-speaking Ulster County, New York in 1797. Born into slavery, her enslavers bought and sold Truth four times, and subjected her to harsh physical labor and violent punishments.
In 1851, Truth began a lecture tour that included a women’s rights conference in Akron, Ohio, where she delivered her famous “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech. In it, she challenged prevailing notions of racial and gender inferiority and inequality by reminding listeners of her combined strength and female status. In 1850, she dictated what would become her autobiography—The Narrative of Sojourner Truth. Truth survived on sales of the book, which also brought her national recognition.
Susan B. Anthony: The Relentless Fighter for Women’s Suffrage
Champion of temperance, abolition, the rights of labor, and equal pay for equal work, Susan Brownell Anthony became one of the most visible leaders of the women’s suffrage movement. In 1905, she met with President Theodore Roosevelt in Washington DC to discuss the submission of a suffrage amendment to Congress. She attended hearings in DC and gave her “Failure is Impossible” speech at her 86th birthday celebration.
Susan B. Anthony died on March 13, 1906 from heart failure and pneumonia at her Rochester home. She did not live to see the passage of the 19th Amendment. However, in recognition of her role in bringing about its fruition, the amendment was widely heralded as the “Susan B. Anthony amendment” and was ratified in 1920. As such, it stood as a tribute to Anthony’s integrity, determination, and influence. The fruits of her labor would enable many women to play an integral role in shaping US society for generations to come.
Eleanor Roosevelt: The Global Champion of Human Rights
Born in New York City on October 11, 1884, Anna Eleanor Roosevelt would not know until later in her life that she would be one of the most renowned 20th-century female civil rights activists of her time. Mrs. Roosevelt grew up to be the First Lady of the White House, a politician, diplomat, and activist. As she greeted thousands of people with a friendly charm, she ensured her voice was heard and used her platform to establish change for women in the workplace. Whether Eleanor was speaking in person, talking on the radio, or candidly reporting her opinions in a weekly newspaper column, she was a well-respected woman with purpose.
Mrs. Roosevelt began her career in the 1920s when she became a prominent leading role in several feminist groups. Roosevelt continued her advocacy to improve the conditions for female working professionals and politicians all the way up until her passing on November 7, 1962. Eleanor Roosevelt became well-known as FDR’s first lady, but her contributions toward human rights after her husband’s death might be her most lasting legacy.
Carrie Chapman Catt: The Strategic Mastermind Behind Women’s Suffrage
One of the most famous suffragists in America, Carrie Chapman Catt was at the centre of the movement in the most essential years. Catt became involved in the late 1880s before being elected president of the National American Woman Suffrage in 1900. She served two terms, the second of which was from 1915-1920. In those crucial years, Catt rallied supporters and strategically encouraged them to support the war in order to show patriotism.
Her tireless work, and that of others, helped bring about the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920. She would also found the League of Women Voters after the amendment, encouraging women to go out and vote. Catt undoubtedly influenced American politics. Her strategic approach to suffrage work demonstrated that political change required both moral conviction and tactical brilliance.
Clara Barton: The Angel of the Battlefield
Notably, it was during the Civil War that women began to serve as nurses on a much larger and more official scale. Approximately 3,000 women served as nurses for the Union Army during the war. Legendary nurse and founder of the Red Cross Clara Barton even received a special “military pass” that permitted her to travel directly onto the battlefield, where she drove her medical wagons straight into the fray to tend to wounded soldiers.
Barton’s courage under fire wasn’t just about medical care—it was about proving that women could serve their country in the most dangerous circumstances. Her work established the precedent for women’s vital contributions to American military efforts. During the Civil War, women’s roles became even more crucial as nearly 20,000 women lent their skills and efforts in everything from growing crops to feed Union troops to cooking in Army camps.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton: The Intellectual Force Behind Women’s Rights
Born in Johnstown, New York in 1815, Elizabeth Cady Stanton was surrounded by the conversation of legal affairs throughout her childhood, as her father was a New York State assembly member, ultimately providing Elizabeth with an informal education that led her to her great passion for female representation in legislative roles and policy. Not only did she fight for women’s rights throughout her political career, but she also married abolitionist lecturer, Henry Stanton.
She met women’s rights activists, including Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, as well as temperance advocates—both causes she quickly championed. Stanton’s intellectual approach to women’s rights helped establish the philosophical foundation for the suffrage movement. Her ability to articulate the legal and moral arguments for women’s equality made her an indispensable voice in the early women’s rights movement.
Ida B. Wells: The Fearless Journalist Who Exposed Lynching
Ida B. Wells (1862-1931) was known for being a journalist, civil rights activist, anti-lynching campaigner, suffragist and teacher. “The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them,” she believed. Wells courageously investigated and documented lynchings across the South, risking her own life to expose these horrific crimes to the world.
Her investigative journalism challenged the prevailing narratives about lynching and demonstrated that these acts were often economically motivated rather than responses to alleged crimes. Wells’ work laid the groundwork for future civil rights activism and showed how the power of the press could be used to fight injustice. She faced death threats and exile for her reporting, but never wavered in her commitment to truth.
Amelia Earhart: The Pioneer Who Broke Aviation Barriers
As the first female pilot to fly across the Atlantic Ocean, Amelia Earhart forever changed the world of aviation. Her mysterious disappearance while flying over the Pacific Ocean in 1937 has sparked a range of theories, from a potentially fatal crash to her spending her final days on a remote island. “The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity,” said Amelia Earhart (1897-1937?), aviation pioneer.
Earhart’s aviation achievements weren’t just about breaking records—they were about proving that women could excel in fields traditionally dominated by men. Her courage in the cockpit inspired countless women to pursue careers in aviation and other technical fields. Even today, her legacy continues to encourage women to reach for the skies, literally and figuratively.
Contemporary Trailblazers: The Modern Legacy
Women made up 47% of the U.S. civilian labor force in 2023, up from 30% in 1950 – but growth has stagnated, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The share of women in the labor force generally grew throughout the second half of the 20th century but has since leveled off. The share of women in opposite-sex marriages who earn as much as or more than their husband has roughly tripled over the past 50 years. In 2022, women were the sole or primary breadwinner in 16% of opposite-sex marriages, up from 5% in 1972.
President Joe Biden’s Cabinet is a rare example of gender parity in government leadership. Of 25 Cabinet or Cabinet-level positions, 12 are held by women (48%). 11% of Fortune 500 company CEOs are women, along with 30% of Fortune 500 board members. These modern achievements stand on the shoulders of the women who came before, proving that progress continues but there’s still work to be done.
The Unfinished Business: Looking Forward
For 2025, the National Women’s History Alliance proudly presents the theme “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations.” This theme celebrates the collective strength and influence of women who have dedicated their lives to education, mentorship, and leadership. From classrooms to boardrooms, and from grassroots movements to global initiatives, women educators and leaders have played a pivotal role in nurturing minds and inspiring transformative action. Our 2025 theme spotlights the contributions women have made to the American educational system, the free marketplace of ideas, and the very fabric of our democracy.
Because remembering is an act of resistance. And our history is our strength. We have women to thank for many of the biggest and best contributions to society, and the inspiring and influential female figures have paved the way. Over the years, these trailblazers have worked tirelessly in their own ways to make the world a better place and shape the course of history.
The women profiled here represent just a fraction of the countless females who have shaped American history. Their stories remind us that change often begins with a single person willing to stand up for what’s right, regardless of the consequences. From Abigail Adams’ letters to Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat, these women understood that true progress requires both courage and persistence. What would our nation look like today without their contributions?
