They Led the Way 14 American Women Author:Johanna Johnston, Deanne Hollinger (Illustrator) The battle for equal rights began hundreds of years ago and there were many strong, influential women who fought hard for their freedom and for the freedom of others. Here are the stories of fourteen women who stood up for what they believed in. — From Emma Willard, who started the first college for women, and Abigail Adams, who believed that wom... more »en should have the same rights as men, to Harriet Beecher Stowe, who wrote a book that helped to abolish slavery, these are the inspiring stories of women who changed a nation.