The Forgotten Women of the Founding

When we think of America's founding, the same names tend to dominate the conversation: Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, and Madison. They signed the documents, commanded the armies, debated the Constitution, and held the nation's highest offices. But the American Revolution and the creation of the United States were far from exclusively male endeavors. In this episode of America at 250: Due Diligence, Bill Bernardoni and Steve Herman continue their Forgotten Founders series by turning their attention to the women whose contributions helped shape the revolution and the early republic, even as they were largely excluded from formal political power. First, Karen Kedrowski, professor of political science at Iowa State University and director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics, joins us to explore the remarkable roles women played in securing American independence. From Mercy Otis Warren's influential political writings and Phillis Wheatley's groundbreaking poetry to the women who raised money for the Continental Army, gathered intelligence, and endured the hardships of military campaigns, their contributions extended well beyond traditional expectations. We also examine the legal restrictions women faced, the surprising history of women's voting rights in early New Jersey, and Abigail Adams's famous appeal to her husband to "remember the ladies." Then, historian Cassandra Good, associate professor of history at Marymount University and author of Founding Friendships and First Family, takes us inside the personal relationships that helped shape the new nation. How did women exercise political influence without holding office or casting a ballot? What role did Abigail Adams play in her husband's political career? And could Elizabeth Willing Powel's friendship with George Washington have helped persuade him to seek a second presidential term? We also explore the private world of the founding generation, from the friendships between prominent men and women to George and Martha Washington's family life and the social customs of the early republic. Along the way, we revisit Benjamin Franklin's famous declaration, "A republic, if you can keep it," and the historical uncertainty surrounding the woman who may have prompted it. The story of America's founding is often told through its great documents, celebrated battles, and famous statesmen. But behind those familiar events were women who wrote, organized, financed, petitioned, advised, and challenged the men making the decisions. Their stories offer a different perspective on the founding and raise a larger question: What does political participation really mean when most of the population is excluded from formal power? As America marks its 250th anniversary, we look beyond the familiar names to uncover the women whose contributions belong in the story of the nation's founding.