November 13, 1776

Dear Sirs of the Constitutional Convention,

My name is Elizabeth Montgomery. I am twenty-five years old and am currently a

barmaid at a public inn. I work very hard to provide myself with the necessities to live,
but making a living on my income is very hard to do with the way our community is run
these days. I have continued to impress my employer with my hard work, yet I remain
poor. I work all day, serving and attending to wealthy white men. As they talk about the
government, politics, rights, and society, I begin to understand how government has
instructed us to live by rule, including how womens voices have yet to be heard. I know
more about our governments constitution, and I do not believe it is an equal method.
Myself, and hundreds of other women would like a voice and a way to be heard by the
government, and we are not afraid to fight for it.
Being a woman in todays society is not as content as it seems. Constantly being
managed by men, and having no say in the government is frustrating. Womens rights
have been extremely restrained. Supporting my case is the idea and law of coverture.
Coverture is a legal doctrine whereby, upon marriage, a woman's legal rights and
obligations were subsumed by those of her husband, in accordance with the wife's
legal status. This idea supports my theory that women need to have a right to speak
about what they think, and where they stand in their community. The acceptance of
coverture will give women the much needed confidence to protect their legal rights.
I have been inspired Abigail Adams, a phenomenal woman, who is a major
influence to myself and others. Abigail took a bold risk by continuously sending letters
to her husband, John Adams, the president. She took a fair stab at the mans pride along
with making the threat of a women's rebellion. She took it even further and used her
husbands words against him, saying, no voice, or representation, doesnt that
sound quite similar to No Taxation without Representation Abigail made a strong
case that has inspired many women across the states. She uses logic and common sense,
and she even calls out the hypocrisy that is being exposed. Abigail also struggles with
her cases. The lack of education for women provides a great impact on her position, and
she is constantly trying to keep up with the mens state of mind. She continues to fight
for her rights to life, liberty, and happiness.

Another major voice in womens rights belongs to Olympe de Gouges. She is a

major inspiration to me and many other women. In her Declaration of the Rights of
Woman and the Female Citizen writing, she challenged the practice of male authority
and female inequality. She also wrote gender-related topics such as the right of divorce
and argued in favour of sexual relations outside of marriage. Which also argues for other
womens rights when it comes to relationships. Olympe wrote prolifically in defense of
her ideas. She wrote many plays that expressed her thoughts about the government. She
published the pamphlet known as; The Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the
[Female] Citizen. In this pamphlet she argued not only that women should have the
same rights as men but also that children born outside of marriage should be treated
fairly as legitimate children in matters of inheritance.
Gaining the confidence to participate in protesting was very obdurate for me. An
event that sparked my determination and confidence was the Edenton Tea Party,
which took place on October 25, 1774. This protest event expressed womens rights, and
the importance of their voices being heard. A prestigious women by the name of Mrs.
Penelope Barker organized, fifty-one women in Edenton, North Carolina. Together, they
formed an alliance that wholeheartedly supporting the American cause against taxation
without representation.
All I am asking for is for womens rights to be recognized and enhanced. Women
are strong, intelligent, and self-reliant. We need to have the same rights of men, we need
to be able to vote, and most importantly we need to have the confidence to carry on with
our lives feeling respected and satisfied. I, Elizabeth Montgomery, will work together
with my fellow women to defend and secure our rights as women. I promise to give all
my effort and provide confidence and determination to women of need. I respectfully
write this letter to address my ideas and views for this countrys equality in hopes that
my words will have an affect on the much deserved rights of women.

Elizabeth Montgomery