This “Address to the Ladies” is patterned on a popular song, “Young Ladies in Town”, that was being sung before the American Revolution (1775-1783). It first appeared in The Boston News-Letter in 1769, and was a reaction to the Townshend Acts. The song called on women to boycott English textiles and other imported goods. The original version had the ladies wearing clothing of their own make and spinning, and also throwing away their bohea and hyson teas. This “Address to the Ladies” refers to money being scarce and times growing worse, both causes of Shays’ Rebellion (1786-1787). The attack on the Springfield, Massachusetts, arsenal occurred nine days after this appeared in the Hampshire Gazette.
Hampshire Gazette. “Address to the Ladies.” January 17, 1787. Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, American Centuries. https://americancenturies.org/collection/l06-081/. Accessed on October 16, 2024.
Please note: Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.