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First Ladies of the Republic: Martha Washington, Abigail Adams, Dolley Madison, and the Creation of an Iconic American Role Paperback – November 15, 2019

by Jeanne E. Abrams (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars 148 ratings
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How the three inaugural First Ladies defined the role for future generations, and carved a space for women in America

America’s first First Ladies―Martha Washington, Abigail Adams, and Dolley Madison―had the challenging task of playing a pivotal role in defining the nature of the American presidency to a fledgling nation and to the world. In First Ladies of the Republic, Jeanne Abrams breaks new ground by examining their lives as a group. From their visions for the future of the burgeoning new nation and its political structure, to ideas about family life and matrimony, these three women had a profound influence on one another’s views as they created the new role of presidential spouse.

Martha, Abigail and Dolley walked the fine line between bringing dignity to their lives as presidential wives, and supporting their husbands’ presidential agendas, while at the same time, distancing themselves from the behavior, customs and ceremonies that reflected the courtly styles of European royalty that were inimical to the values of the new republic. In the face of personal challenges, public scrutiny, and sometimes vocal criticism, they worked to project a persona that inspired approval and confidence, and helped burnish their husbands’ presidential reputations.

The position of First Lady was not officially authorized or defined, and the place of women in society was more restricted than it is today. These capable and path-breaking women not only shaped their own roles as prominent Americans and “First Ladies,” but also defined a role for women in public and private life in America.

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  1. Print length
    328 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    November 15, 2019
  4. Dimensions
    6 x 0.8 x 9 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    1479890502
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1479890507
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Abrams sets this...entertaining book against the background of the post-revolutionary era, when American ideals and traditions were being formed." ― Denver Post

"Abrams provides a much-needed new approach to understanding the significance of the position that Martha Washington (17311802), Abigail Adams (17441818), and Madison once occupied.[She] gives life to Martha, Abigail, and Dolley, illuminating the importance of their position to American history...compelling storytelling." ― STARRED Library Journal

"Abrams’s argument draws much-needed attention to the ways in which each of these figures was dedicated to preserving the political and personal legacies of her husband…Its well-written and accessible prose will likely appeal to a popular audience as well…Abrams’s work… finds its most important contribution in defining the ways in which these women infused their marital partnerships with political power and her argument about these three women’s collective, rather than individual, influence on this critical American role." -- Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography

"Abrams presents an in-depth social and political history of three of the First Ladies of the Revolutionary generation. Through this history, the author fills in gaps in our understanding of these three women and their positions as consorts, advisors, caretakers, and protectors of the first presidents…makes a useful contribution to early American history in its portrayal of these First Ladies and can be enjoyed by the general reader as well as the scholar. This book does much to keep early American political and social history alive." -- H-Net Reviews

"Other books examine specific First Ladies, but Abrams convincingly contends that considering these three together provides an important look at the evolving role of women during the early republicFirst Ladies of the Republic demonstrates that studies of early American presidential politics must also analyze the work of First Ladies." ― Journal of American History

"Abrams contributes a substantive study of the first three (precedent-setting) First LadiesEarnest, balanced, insightful, well researched, and browsable, this is a rich source of Information." ― Choice

"Accessible and entertaining, First Ladies of the Republic offers readers a refreshing and often perceptive view of its subjects. Abrams is thoroughly versed in the voluminous literature on women’s and gender history, employing her understanding of that literature to good advantage…this is a compelling effort, and one that historians and the general public will profit from reading" -- American Historical Review

"Accessible and entertaining, First Ladies of the Republic offers readers a refreshing and often perceptive view of its subjects. Abrams is thoroughly versed in the voluminous literature on women’s and gender history, employing her understanding of that literature to good advantage." -- Canada and the United States

"A fine introduction… Abrams fully tells each woman’s story as an individual biography, relying on both primary and secondary sources … [and] it is instructive to see their stories juxtaposed." -- Edith Gelles, William and Mary Quarterly

"Abrams' astute analysis of how Martha Washington, Abigail Adams, and Dolley Madison shaped the political culture of their times is a welcome contribution to the historiography of the early republic and women's history. Three first ladies who in their time could not even vote exercised intelligence and initiative to transcend boundaries between private and public spheres. How they did it will attract readers inside and outside the academy's walls." -- Alan M. Kraut, University Professor of History,American University, and Past President, Organization of American Historians

"Jeanne Abramss First Ladies of the Republic offers a compelling new approach to understanding the meaning and significance of the position of 'First Lady.' Examining the lives of Martha Washington, Abigail Adams, and Dolley Madison, she shows how these spirited women invented this new role from scratch to accommodate the demands of a new republican government . Written in an engaging and informative manner, the book combines recent research on early American women's history with a deep knowledge of the women's own lives and words.-" -- Rosemarie Zagarri,George Mason University, author of Revolutionary Backlash

"

"In the last half century weve seen some accomplished and powerful First Ladies, but Jeanne Abrams shows that the potential for presidential spouses to exert influence existed from the beginning of the republic. Using letters and other records of Martha Washington, Abigail Adams and Dolley Madison, Abrams presents convincing evidence that all three women took part in what too often has been considered a strictly male provincethe public political sphere. In a nuanced and expertly articulated argument, she shows that although all three were limited by traditional constraints on women of their time, and although they lacked both the vote and ability to hold office, they managed to play a substantial role in the nations early political life. The book is a commendable addition to our understanding of both a period in American history and a very visible part of our political system.

" -- Betty Boyd Caroli,author of Lady Bird and Lyndon: The Hidden Story of a Marriage that Made a President

"

"Martha Washington, Abigail Adams, and Dolley Madisontogether, these three women created the uniquely American role of 'first lady.' Jeanne Abrams describes the ways in which these women used their role as conventional wives to carve out a place for themselves in the political life of the new nation. The book is well written and engaging, and will appeal to anyone interested in the gender roles and politics of the founding generation.

" -- Rebecca Tannenbaum, Yale University

"Jeanne Abrams provides engaging accounts of how these First Ladies helped craft social spaces that were ‘intentionally political.’" ― Early American Literature

About the Author

Jeanne E. Abrams is Professor at the University Libraries and the Center for Judaic Studies at the University of Denver, where she is also Director of the Rocky Mountain Jewish Historical Society, and Curator of the Beck Archives, Special Collections. She is the author of First Ladies of the Republic: Martha Washington, Abigail Adams, Dolley Madison, and the Creation of an Iconic American Role and Revolutionary Medicine: The Founding Fathers and Mothers in Sickness and in Health.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ NYU Press; Reprint edition (November 15, 2019)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 328 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1479890502
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1479890507
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.8 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 148 ratings

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Jeanne E. Abrams

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4.2 out of 5 stars
148 global ratings

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Customers find the book informative and well-researched. They describe it as an enjoyable read with good insights into American history. The writing style is described as engaging and easy to follow.

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5 customers mention "Knowledge"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and well-researched. They appreciate the author's insights and depictions of women as leaders and role models.

"...Showing women as leaders and role models, with agendas that can move the country, families, and society as a whole forward, is a book that can..." Read more

"...The style is repetitious. While the author-historian makes some good points, it wouldn't take as much detail to substatiale them." Read more

"Entertaining and very informative book on our first three, first ladies. Well written" Read more

"This is a fascinating look at the first First Ladies who had to create the role of first lady from scratch in a new form of government...." Read more

4 customers mention "Writing quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers like the writing quality.

"The writing is detailed, and obviously well researched. The style is repetitious...." Read more

"Enjoyed the book, immensely! Well written. Gives lots of insight to nasty politics in the late 1700’s." Read more

"...Well written" Read more

"Very well written with excellent insights tells the true story of what these early presidents were really like and not the mythological stories we..." Read more

3 customers mention "Readability"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read.

"Enjoyed the book, immensely! Well written. Gives lots of insight to nasty politics in the late 1700’s." Read more

"Great." Read more

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Debra in NYC
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating watching the creation of the role of FLOTUS while watching the current debate of what that role is supposed to be.
    Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I’ve watched so many First Ladies carve out their roles, earning initial criticism and retroactive praise, that I found it fascinating to watch the first three women to hold that title decide how they could best serve their husbands and their new country, while also setting a pattern for those who would follow. Just as America was seeking to define itself, so were its women trying to redefine their place in this new society, and these three FLOTUS used their individual styles and prominent position to bring change to their new nation as much as their husbands had. As much as I love American and Women’s history, I haven’t seen a book that laid out these women’s contributions in quite this way. Showing women as leaders and role models, with agendas that can move the country, families, and society as a whole forward, is a book that can benefit everyone.
    9 people found this helpful
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  • Helen in Wyoming
    4.0 out of 5 stars The book arrived quickly and in fine shape.
    Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    The writing is detailed, and obviously well researched. The style is repetitious. While the author-historian makes some good points, it wouldn't take as much detail to substatiale them.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • alabamaclay
    5.0 out of 5 stars Informative
    Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Enjoyed the book, immensely! Well written. Gives lots of insight to nasty politics in the late 1700’s.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • puppygeorge
    3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting stories
    Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I wish I'd realized it was someone's thesis. Not an easy read at all.
    15 people found this helpful
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  • MaryAnn Frist
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Read
    Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Entertaining and very informative book on our first three, first ladies. Well written
    One person found this helpful
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  • KP
    4.0 out of 5 stars Lovely look into the accomplishments of our first three First Ladies
    Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Very nice look into the accomplishments and work of our first three First Ladies.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Thyria Wilson
    5.0 out of 5 stars This is a fascinating look at the first First Ladies ...
    Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    This is a fascinating look at the first First Ladies who had to create the role of first lady from scratch in a new form of government. Martha Washington, Abigail Adams, and Dolly Madison helped their husbands and Thomas Jefferson form the Republic. They were invaluable partners.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Chaplain
    5.0 out of 5 stars Well done
    Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Very well written with excellent insights tells the true story of what these early presidents were really like and not the mythological stories we hear
    4 people found this helpful
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