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Women's History

Abigail Adams' 'Remember the Ladies' Letter Misunderstood for 250 Years

What Happened On March 31, 1776, as the Continental Congress debated independence, Abigail Adams penned what would become her most quoted correspondence. Writing to her husband John Adams, she urged him to “remember the ladies” as he helped draft America’s new laws. But according to new historical analysis marking the letter’s 250th anniversary, this iconic phrase has been fundamentally misunderstood by generations of Americans. The letter, written during the height of revolutionary fervor, wasn’t an anachronistic demand for women’s voting rights.

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Juana Inés de la Cruz: The 17th-Century Nun Called 'Spanish Shakespeare'

What Happened Historian Paul Gillingham recently appeared on History Extra’s podcast to discuss the life and legacy of Juana Inés de la Cruz, speaking with host Spencer Mizen about this 17th-century Mexican literary giant. Gillingham, who describes her as “the Spanish Shakespeare,” explored how this nun and intellectual managed to create extraordinary literature while navigating the severe social restrictions placed on women in colonial Mexico. The podcast episode is part of a broader series examining the people who have shaped Mexico over the past 500 years, offering listeners insight into figures from the conquistadors to modern cartels.

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9 Black Women Who Transformed History Through Courage and Vision

What Happened Mental Floss recently featured nine Black women whose contributions fundamentally altered the course of American history. The compilation includes civil rights activists Fannie Lou Hamer and Rosa Parks, politician Shirley Chisholm, Underground Railroad conductor Harriet Tubman, NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, journalist Ida B. Wells, educator Mary McLeod Bethune, and author Maya Angelou. Each woman faced the dual challenges of racial segregation and gender discrimination, yet transformed these obstacles into catalysts for extraordinary achievements.

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