Adams implores her husband to address on behalf of the female gender. In the letters Mrs. Adams takes two different and specific approaches to addressing her desire for female equality. The first is the approach of appealing to her husband political beliefs and conscious. When it is apparent that this initial approach is not having the desired impact she then re-strategies and attempts to appeal to John Adams' love of his daughter. .
Abigail's initial approach to addressing the subject with her husband is fascinating. In a letter from Mrs. Adams to John Adams on March 31, 1776 she first addresses the subject by attempting to appeal to the larger political concept on which the colonies had declared war. Abigail Adams begins her appeal by stating "in the new Code of Laws which I suppose it will be necessary for your to make I desire you Remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors" (Shi 149), she takes this approach even further by utilizing the same concept of voice and representation that the male colonist used to justify the need for the Declaration of Independence Abigail writes "If particular care and attention is not paid to the Ladies we are determined to foment a Rebelion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice, or representation" (Shi 149). She goes on to point out that the current social system of the time condoned cruel and abusive behavior by men of women and protected the male superior from punishment for treating females in such a manor. Abigail points out to her husband that this was the opportunity to stop this type of treatment by enacting laws that transitioned the male-female roles and relationship from one of master and property to one of friends (Shi 149). .
On April 14, 1776 Abigail Adams' receives a letter from John Adams in which he makes it abundantly clear that her desire for equal rights for women under the law was not going to be taken seriously by him or others.