First Lady Research Paper

Words: 1614
Pages: 7

Caleb Lee West
Mrs. Lange
English III
April 3, 2018
“Who was the Most Important First Lady?”
The first lady is the wife of the president of the United States of America and is an informal but an accepted title. Their role as the first lady has never been codified or officially defined but deals prominently in the political and social life of the nation. Since the 20th century the ladies have been assisted by official staff which is known as the Office of the First Lady. All have contributed in some way, shape, or form whether that be making a charity or helping one out. Being said there were many contributions from all three first ladies Martha Washington, Abigail Adams, and Dolley Madison. They found some way to contribute to the country but
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All had great contributions to the nation but Martha Washington was the most important first lady compared to the other ladies due to her giving nature, and many contributions as the very first lady.
Martha Washington was born on June 2, 1731 and was married to george washington. She was the very first first lady of the United States of America. Unlike , many of the woman in the 1700’s she learned reading, mathematics, and writing. She was educated with an emphasis on skills seen as integral to running a household. When she became the first lady she took on the responsibility of arranging major social events and parties for the presidential home/office in New York City. Martha would go to see George at war and for roughly a hundred and three months her and george were either together or closeby during the long war. She met a lot of rank-and-file soldiers while visiting him during the war. Martha had concerns of the plight of the common soldiers. Martha would visit his headquarters where she nursed the young wounded soldiers, sewed for them, and tried to raise their moral with her
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All of the donations went through Martha Washington. The funds were only distributed through her discretion. It is said that in the Mount Vernon record books that Martha herself donated twenty thousands dollars to her own campaign. A name for this grateful act was called “The offering of the Ladies” and they helped supply clothes to soldiers that needed them. Abigail Adams was born on November 22, 1744 and goes on to be the wife of a president and a mother of one. Being the first first lady to live in the white house which was unfinished in November 1800. She thought she may of found her calling as a correspondent during the courtship in the 1760’s. For over forty years she wrote letters to her husband, her children, relatives, and friends. Abigail and John would write to each other about public event, private feelings,loyalty, and love, revolution and parenting which and I quote “wove a tapestry of correspondence that has become a cherished part of american history and literature”(Barker-Benfield). As a strong advocate in women's rights she tried to encourage her husband and other members