Seduction Suits
Two court cases illustrate how women’s sexuality is adjudicated in the new court system.
Life Story: Sukey
The story of a woman enslaved by Dolley Madison.
Life Story: Margaret Bayard Smith
The story of the most popular woman political commentator of the Federal Period.
Life Story: Ona Judge
The story of a Black woman who emancipated herself from George and Martha Washington.
Fashion and Politics
Two resources that demonstrate how women used fashion to make political statements in the Federal period.
Making Treaties
Making Treaties The Memoirs of Rufus Putnam and certain official papers and correspondence Excerpts from Rufus Putnam, The Memoirs of Rufus Putnam and certain official papers and correspondence (New York: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1903). University of California Libraries, Archive.org. Document Text Summary A Queen of the Weaughtenows rose, and shaking hands with General Putnam, apologized for her Sons’ not being here; saying: A Queen of the Weaughtenows stood up and shook hands with General Putnam. She apologized that her sons were not there and said: They are wicked when they are drunk—They have done a great deal of Mischief—Yet she should say something for them. Their Older Brothers (meaning the Miamis & Indians) spurr’d them to do mischief—They were not therefore altogether to blame. They behave badly
Federalist v. Anti-Federalist
Mercy Otis Warren and Judith Sargent Murray weigh in on the biggest political debate of the Federal period.
Remember the Ladies
Abigail Adams asks her husband, John Adams, to consider improving women’s standing while he is drafting the Declaration of Independence.
Women’s Suffrage Experiment
A collection of resources that tells the story of New Jersey’s 30-year experiment with women’s suffrage.
