Bagley led a significant antiwar petition to Congress, promoting peace.
On January 1, 1846, Sarah Bagley spearheaded a notable petition initiative, wherein she and numerous women from Lowell called upon the United States Congress for the establishment of a Congress of Nations. This petition reflected the era’s burgeoning antiwar sentiment and highlighted women's roles in advocating for international diplomacy and peace, underscoring the changing dimensions of public policy activism.