During the colonial era, the status and dominance of men overtook the roles women played when they demonstrated their strength, rights given to them over women, and inequality between the two genders. Despite the fallacy that only men in the colonial era fought tremendously to gain their independence, so did women. As men strived to create differences, change the country and most importantly aid America in becoming an independent nation, women of the colonial era did just as much to support their families and build a well- established entity. A very intriguing, intelligent, and one of the most influential founding mothers of America, Martha Washington, out shined the expectations of women by challenging herself to face any obstacles thrown at her without failure. In the novel, Founding Mothers, Cokie Roberts explicates the determination, strength and integrity of the First Lady by not only showing the hardships Martha Washington faced throughout the 1700's but also how she became one of the most influential founding mothers and created a stance for women in colonial America. .
Women of the 1700's in America served as the foundation of every family. Not only would they keep families going, but they also nurtured their children and stood by their husbands while working through hardships. Individuals "bartered each other for goods and services, creating an off-the-books economy entirely run by women" (Roberts 12). Although many women took care of household duties, there were numerous who faced the challenges men faced and not only overcame them but also grew statuses of women. I feel that the most influential individual Roberts expresses in her novel is, Martha Washington. Described by Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams, Martha "received [her] with great ease and politeness. She is plain in her dress, but that plainness is the best of every articleher manners are modest and unassuming, dignified and feminine, not the tincture of hauteur about her" (Roberts 233).