As far back as recorded history takes us, we find cases of domestic abuse against women. This type of behavior was once condoned and even encouraged. Movement to change women's rights date back to 1776, as Abigail Adams advocated to increase freedom within a marriage (Women 453). Although society now realizes the social crisis that domestic abuse causes, it remains gravely undetected and underreported. Women who live with abusive partners usually are made to feel as if they cannot make a better life than the life they live with their abuser. An abuser often takes control of his victim's life and in return the victim feels helpless and often falls into the trap of denial.
             In the Seventeenth Century, Puritans incorporated laws based on justice and order. Within these laws married women had no rights, in return, these laws gave their spouses all control and authority. During this era, spousal abuse was accepted and sometimes encouraged, although there were some stipulations to this "legal" abuse. The weapon that a husband chose to beat his wife with could not be any larger than the circumference of his thumb (Women 452).
             The late 1840's mark an important period of time in the battle against domestic violence.
             In July of 1848 a group of pioneering feminist activists met at Seneca Falls, New York, for the first official discussions of women's rights. ...Out of this landmark meeting was born the suffrage movement, which sought the right for women to vote. Although this goal was not realized until 1920, a tremendous amount of time and resources were dedicated to its fulfillment over a seventy-two-year struggle. (Women 454)
             Those who integrated this meeting had plans to create rights socially, civilly and religiously. Almost thirty years later legislation began to change.
             In 1874 the North Carolina Supreme Court made a ruling against spousal battery; however, the court went on...