THE CONSTITUTION ATLASA BABYLON LEARNING PROJECTOriginal records

The correspondence desk · 1776

The founders,
in their own words.

Read an actual exchange, then follow the later letters. Each passage keeps its date, writer, recipient and complete source.

Manuscript · page 2

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Manuscript · page 2

Manuscript · page 2

March 31–April 5, 1776

Abigail Adamsto John Adams

“Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands. Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could.”

Abigail brings the argument about arbitrary power into marriage and asks for women’s interests to be considered in new laws.

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A real exchange · not a reconstructed conversation

The March 31–April 5 letter and the April 14 reply belong together. The May and July letters are later correspondence, shown as separate moments.

Bring the threads together

Now follow the idea into public life.

The correspondence lets us hear a disagreement or an interpretation in a particular moment. The founding story places those words beside public proposals and adopted constitutional text.

Follow the illustrated story