The Limitations of Republican Motherhood: An Analysis of the Political Behaviors of Martha Washington, Abigail Adams, and Dolley Madison

Republican Motherhood has served as the predominant ideology representing women of the early republic since its popularization in 1980 with Linda K. Kerber’s Women of the Republic: Intellect and Ideology in Revolutionary America. However, despite its strong influence on the field of history, Republican Motherhood is not without its flaws. An analysis of the political actions of Martha Washington, Abigail Adams, and Dolley Madison illustrates the inherent limitations of the influential ideology as it relates to women’s political agency. Each woman’s political actions while serving as First Lady extend beyond the traditional understanding of Republican Motherhood, bringing to question the utility of this ideology in today’s historiography. Given its limitations on women’s political agency as displayed through the First Ladies of the early republic, Republican Motherhood needs to be re-examined to allow for greater acknowledgement of women’s various forms of political expression in the young United States.

Author

• Milley, Marissa

Language

• en

Keyword

• Martha Washington
• Abigail Adams
• Dolley Madison
• Republican Motherhood
• First Lady

Date created

• 2022

Type of Work

• Master's Thesis

License

• All rights reserved

Rights statement

• In Copyright

GW Unit

• History

Degree

• M.A.

Advisor

• Brunsman, Denver

Committee Member(s)

• Silverman, David

Persistent URL

•  https://scholarspace.library.gwu.edu/etd/1r66j195h