The adage goes, “Behind every good man is a great woman” (or two or three). Such is the premise of
Founding Mothers written by renowned journalist Cokie Roberts. In her book, Roberts shares her research (which she primarily gathers from preserved correspondence, which is the most reliable, and sometimes only, way of knowing of women’s lives during that period) about and gives insight into these Founding Mothers’—mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, and friends of the Founding Fathers—lives and the degree of their influence upon the Founding Fathers, and in turn the founding of our country. The book
provides a unique insight on the founding of the
United States as it follows the influential women of the time from colonial days through the Revolutionary War and ratification of the constitution and concludes with the peaceful transfer of the presidency from
Washington to
Adams. Throughout, Roberts provides a narrative and occasional quips, sometimes witty, sometimes irritating. Overall, an enjoyable and educational reading I would recommend to anyone interested in women’s history.
What made the American Revolution successful and constitution possible was that unlike other revolutions and new government foundings, which are by and large unsuccessful, educated, honorable men led the way. Mothers quotes one Harriott Horry Ravenal, great-great-granddaughter of Founding Mother Eliza Pinckney, illustrates how such honorable intentions had to be the mind of Founding Mothers as well: “The women of all the colonies had committed to them a great though an unsuspected charge: to fit themselves and their sons to meet the coming change (self-government) in law and soberness; not in riot and anarchy as did the unhappy women of the French Revolution.”
Reading about the likes of Martha Washington, Abigail Adams, Mercy Otis Warren, and the other founding mothers was inspiring. These were thinking women who shared their insights with a world traditionally unwelcoming of such. Most understood their potential and influence and were able to politic for the best. They rallied together other women and utilized their combined force for good, proving among the best of patriots. They were thankfully unrelenting when occasion called for it. And they were very hard workers. (Many had to sacrifice the men in their lives to either war or public service, leaving them to care for family, estate, and means of living on their own.) One characteristic this book brought to my attention is that the Founding Mothers were a diverse crowd, as were the Founding Fathers. They came from many different backgrounds and acted in many different functions to influence on many different issues on many different fronts. Such an effort was required for a successful independence and founding. (Of course they did not always agree on how to accomplish their designs, although they had intentions for the same outcome—what was best for the country.)
While reading this book I was ashamed at how much of my country’s early history and founding was new to me. I was also impressed at the sacrifice required and the absolute role Providence played. It is now my opinion that every citizen should require it of themselves to read a good book on the founding of the United States. When we learn where we come from, we have more interest in the present and future. As Benjamin Franklin once infamously said, our country is “a republic, if [we] can keep it.”
The adage goes, “Behind every good man is a great woman” (or two or three). Such is the premise of Founding Mothers written by renowned journalist Cokie Roberts. In her book, Roberts shares her research (which she primarily gathers from preserved correspondence, which is the most reliable, and sometimes only, way of knowing of women’s lives during that period) about and gives insight into these Founding Mothers’—mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, and friends of the Founding Fathers—lives and the degree of their influence upon the Founding Fathers, and in turn the founding of our country. The book provides a unique insight on the founding of the 
