Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation

Anyone interested in American History, Women's rights or just one more way to understanding the founding of this country would be interested in this book. I was a history major in college in the 60's and I knew very little of the remarkable contributions these women made. I have a whole new appreciation for this country's beginnings.

Written in contemporary prose with plenty of opinions thrown in to spice things up, this is an eye-opener of a book with lots of discoveries to be made about Abigail Adams, Martha Washinton, Mercy Warren and their contemporaries. Did you know Eli Whitney might have stolen the idea of the cotton gin from Kitty Greene, according to no less an authority than MIT? Did you know slave Elizabeth Freeman pretty much single-handedly forced Massachusets to end slavery? What's really amazing about this book is how obvious it is that while the men may have been in revolt against the British, the women were in revolt against their condition. I don't think the men had any idea that all this revolutionary dealing would start the women down the road to Seneca Falls in 1848 and the 19th Amendment in 1920.

A wonderful book about extraordinary real women who deserve their own spot along side the Founding Fathers. The bravery and the guts of these women surprised me. Each one was heroic in her own way and has made me want to learn more about each one.

This is a very fascinating book and I am glad that I was able to buy it not too long ago. I remember reading the back of the book at the bookstore and thinking, "I have to have it." That first thought hasn't changed. This book is written about women who influenced the leaders of the Revolutionary War, the first Continental Congress, the first Congress, first states and so on. These are women who have managed to keep the homefires burning, raising children and oftentimes, burying children, finding ways to keep their heads above financial debt while their husbands were away at war or at debates. These are women who have given up homes and friends to be with their husbands overseas on diplomatic missions ~~ women who published their thoughts and urged other patriots to fight in the war. These are not shy wall-flowers that other historical tomes would have you believe. These women really did back their influential husbands because they are strong women themselves. This book covers the pre-War era, the Revolution, and the beginnings of a new country where it took men two years on how to decide to rule this brand-new country. This book was based on other biographies, letters exchanged among the women and among their husbands, and other historical tidbits that definitely made this book interesting. I know there are reviewers here who did not like Roberts' little asides and comments nor did they like her style of writing. I found it utterly fascinating and wanted to read more. It was disjointed in some places as she would wander off track for a little bit ~~ but I never had any trouble following her train of thought. It was just fascinating. This book is a must-read for every true history reader. Not only did it contain political thoughts that these women have written or talked about ~~ it also contained customs of the times (which in some cases really haven't changed much over the years), personal thoughts of people who were actually there in the midst of the fighting and it definitely showed the Founding Fathers ~~ not as perfect men, but as human and oftentimes flawed. They become more real because Roberts took the time to make them more human and more interesting. This book is definitely one of the top 10 for my 2006 booklist. I finished it in time to really enjoy the Fourth of July as now I understand these people a little bit better and can appreciate their fight more. 7-3-06

Cokie Roberts thoroughly enjoyed writing this tribute to the wives of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776, and other prominent women of the era . The book begins in the early 1700's. It ends when the presidency of George Washington ends and John Adams is elected, in 1797.I appreciated the notes and the cast of characters including names of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, the signers of the Constitution, the players in the new government, women writers of the period, and famous soldiers and statesmen during the revolutionary war, which are included in the back of the book. Excerpts from many letters are included and are so beautifully written.Let your imagination wander as you read vivid accounts of the sacrifices made by families who wanted independence from England - the yellow fever and smallpox epidemics, the building of a military, the contributions made by exceptional women such as Abigail Adams and Martha Washington, as well as Phillis Wheatley, Mercy Otis Warren, Sarah Livingston Jay, and many others portrayed here. Cokie writes as if she is having fun telling us so many interesting facts about the "founding families", and I had fun learning more about them and relearning early American history.The true story of Benedict Arnold and his wife was enlightening as well as the character of Alexander Hamilton. You will enjoy learning about influential women in this book.Cokie has inserted some of her own remarks to lighten up the picture, and she carefully recounts the contributions of each state as they represented the new government at that time; the conflicts with the British,the alliance with the French, as well as inevitable partisan politics.

Cokie Roberts did an outstanding job in this book showing the courage, strength, passion, and patriotism exemplified by the extraordinary women of our nation's history, and how they made the jobs of the men who formed our nation possible. The women had a voice that was spoken behind-the-scenes. They took care of keeping their homes safe, even defending them against attack during volatile times. The extraordinary women are role models of just how much a woman can accomplish while working in harmony with the men in their lives, which made it possible for much reform, change, and revitalization of America. This book is an outstanding read for all who are interested in the authentic power of how much influence a woman can bring while backing, supporting, and working in harmony with the men in their lives. A great example of a win/win for all. This book deserves 10 Stars! Highly Recommended! Barbara Rose, author of "Stop Being the String Along: A Relationship Guide to Being THE ONE" and 'If God Was Like Man' Editor of inspire! magazine