Basic Information : Synopsis : Characters : Expectations : Thoughts : Evaluation : Book Group : New Words : Book References : Good Quotes : Table of Contents : References
Basic Information:
Author:
Cokie Roberts
Edition:
epub on Overdrive from Fresno County Public Library
Publisher:
HarperCollins
ISBN:
(ASIN) B0024CF0GQ
Start
Date: June 14, 2019
Read
Date: October 27, 2019
384
pages
Genre:
History, Biography,
Language
Warning: None
Rated
Overall: 2½ out of 5
History:
4 out of 5
Synopsis (Caution: Spoiler Alert-Jump to Thoughts):
This
book is broken out into seven historical sections: root of
revolution, declaring independence, the Revolutionary War, more years
of war, after the war, to the making of the Constitution and
election, afterwards. In each section she takes a few women and shows
the parts they played during these times. Some like Abigail Adams and
Martha Washington are studied more than others.
Cast of Characters:
See
the section in the book called Cast of Characters where Roberts lists
the characters by the males who they corresponded with.
Expectations:
- Recommendation: OSHER Book Group
- When: May 2019
- Date Became Aware of Book: A year or more before
- How come do I want to read this book: Part of the OSHER Book Group reading list for Fall 2019
- What do I think I will get out of it? Unknown
Thoughts:
Chapter
One: Before 1775: The road to revolution
Eliza
Pickney-goal was to not
to regard the frowns of the world, but to keep a steady upright
conduct before my God, and before man, doing my duty.
This should be the goal of any human. Echo’s Jesus’ thoughts on
what is the greatest command and the second one. The question for
each person in this world is how to carry it out?
Roberts
presents the concerns about being looked at primarily as a baby
producing machine. But then she also says that Esther Edwards Burr
felt that marriage was the preferred state to be in.
There
was twin roots in the colonists drive for independence. The first,
was the British was being lax on security. New York had two canons to
protect herself. Even more so, only enough gunpowder to fire a couple
rounds. The second was the issue of taxing the colonists. The
colonists felt more like a conquered country than full British
citizens.
Politician’s
children have it rough. Your
slightest indiscretion will be magnified into crime, in order the
more sensibly to wound and afflict me. It is therefore the more
necessary for you to be extremely circumspect in all your behavior.
This was written by Benjamin Franklin to his daughter.
Chapter
Two: 1775-1776: Independence
Battles
of Lexington and Concord-the colonist lost. But the retreat, the
British lost a ratio of three soldiers to one of the colonists. A
couple of months later, the Colonial Army was raised under the
command of George Washington.
Mercy
Warren talks about the Old South Church. We saw this when we were in
Boston last October. She talks about how the church had its interior
removed so that a British General’s horses could be accommodated in
the church.
Abigail
Adams-Pretty astute opinions, ranging from personal to political. She
would take up stands against the strong for the weak. She notes to
her husband, John Adams that Do
not out such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands. Remember
all men would be tyrants if they could.
Chapter
Three: 1776-1778: War and a nascent nation
Chapter
Four: 1778-1782: Still more war and home-front activism
Esther
Reed: civil
war[the
American Revolutionary War] with
all it horrors, stains this land...the people are determined to die
or be free.
The
women made their mark by sewing shirts and clothing for the soldiers.
The woman would sew their names into the shirts so that the men would
know that the women were behind them and who to thank.
Roberts
talks about Benedict Arnold. He pursued a woman, Peggy Shippen and
married her. He had written love letters to one woman. When she
rejected him, he reused the letters to Shippen.
Roberts
timeline is a bit confusing. She has Cornwall surrendering. The
armies would take years to disband. And then the American Army going
into winter camp.
Talks
about the capturing of Charlestown. After awhile, the American Army
in Charlestown was viewed from being liberators to being a new
occupying force.
Chapter
Five: 1782-1787: Peace and diplomacy
It
seems like there were several things about family relationships.
Because of the small numbers of people, it seems like there was a lot
of people who were related to each other. Because of the distances,
many times, even semi-close relatives saw each other only a handful
of times. Third, what they lacked in face to face relations, they
made up in letter-writing.
Roberts
says that Martha Laurens was religious-enough so she had made a
covenant with God. Her husband published her journal after her death.
Roberts says that she was famous in her own right. What was her
married name? Her father got into the hands of the British. She
wanted to rush to London to work for his release, but was convinced
this was a bad idea. Later on, she learned that he was to be hanged
as a traitor, if the British won the war.
Prepare
for the worst, and hope for the best.
Mrs John Jay.
Thomas
Jefferson seemed like he was trying to create discipline in his
daughter, making her able to get a suitable match. But I suspect that
these days he would be considered a rotten father. The
acquirements which I hope you will make under the tutors I have
provided for you will render yo more worthy of my love.
Sounds like she has to earn his love rather than it being given
freely to his daughter.
Chapter
Six: 1787-1789: Constitution and the first election
Roberts
comments that there was no common thread to hold together the nation
after the Revolutionary War. There was the great potential that each
state would go their own separate ways. There was wide-spread
discontent.
For
several years, the states acted as a loose confederacy rather than a
unified nation. Each state would enter into agreements with
neighboring states when it suited them. It was only later when
rebellion started to ferment, did the weakness of the Articles of
Confederation come to a crisis to be reformed.
Alexander
Hamilton was accepted because of merit as well as marrying well. He
was foreign born and illegitimate.
I
got a lot better understanding of how instrumental George Washington
was in getting the Constitution moved forward as well as approved.
While not the brains of it, he was the one who had the stature among
the Fathers, and who pushed for it and made sure that it was
considered.
The
take on Robert Morris was interesting. He was purported to be the
richest man in America. There was a push for him to be President,
since he was one of the great leaders of the Revolution, financing
much of it, but also being part of the group which drafted and signed
the Declaration of Independence. But instead of accepting the
presidency, he understood that there was a conflict with his own
businesses and the business of the people. So he refused. This is so
much in contrast to our current President who tries to do both and
ends up intermixin the two.
Apparently
Thomas Jefferson thought that a woman’s place was to
soothe and calm the minds of their husbands returning ruffled from
political debate.
The
debate over the Constitution was done in secret. Apparently these
were people of honor as they did not even discuss the debates with
their wives, let alone in public with the press. This is a difference
from today when you cannot trust a debate will not be reported within
five minutes of something being spoken. Was this a good thing about
it being done in secret? I wonder what the outcome would have been if
there was the emphasis on “transparency” we have today.
Like
Thomas Jeffereson writing the Declaration of Independence, Gouverneur
Morris chose and wrote the words of the US Constitution. Why don’t
we celebrate Morris like we do Jefferson?
Jane
Mecom said: You
perceive we have some quarrelsome spirits against the Constitution,
but it does not appear to be those of superior judgement.
This seems so appropriate today, We seem to fight, not for the sake
of the country, but to fight. Definitely not of superior judgement.
The
Constitution would not be signed without the understanding that the
Bill of Rights would be added on soon afterwards. Virginia was
particularly insistent on this.
After
1789: Raising a nation cast of characters.
See
the references for Martha Washington’s cookbook/recipes. Also
Harriott Horry’s cookbook.
Martha
and George Washington could not accept private invitations so that
there was not the appearance of favoritism. Sort of different now.
When George Washington went on tours, he would stay only at public
inns, not in private residences.
Eli
Whitney worked for Kitty Greene, wife of the late Colonel Greene. The
same inventor of the cotton gin.
Because
the men were away doing things during the Revolutionary War, a need
to educate women to take on responsibilities which were traditionally
men was recognized. Roberts says that these responsibilities would
require the participation of its citizens.
But who were citizens? Would it be anybody who lived in the United
States? Or only those who could vote? Roberts is unclear with this.
There is a list of books, in French, Greek and Latin, which was
proposed to be a circulliam by Catharinie Macaulay. The is of books
seem pretty high browed, more for the upper, well educated class, not
so much for the farmer or poor.
Roberts
noted that both Martha Washington and Abigail Adams had a lot of
parties and engagement. While both wearing on the wives and there
seemed to be a bit of luxury and opulence to those who were below
that class of people, they served a useful function. They were places
where political foes could come together and treat their opponents
with respect and courtesy. She also note that Getting
together over drinks and a good dinner at the end of the day tends to
tame animosities.
We could use a little bit of this today.
Also
Washington liked these get togethers. It is pointed out that if there
was one thing which opponents needed, it was that George Washington
continued to be President beyond just one term.
Then
like today, there seems to be a prevalence of investigating ones
political opponents. I guess the idea is if you cannot beat a person
or idea in politics and thoughts, dig up dirt on them.
Evaluation:
This
may be a book which I do not appreciate for a couple of reasons.
First, because I was hoping for a really high quality book. When
Cokie Roberts would appear on NPR, I would make sure I would listen
up. That is the kind of book I was expecting. Two, the subject matter
she is tackling is to show that the Founding Fathers of the United
States were not the only gender which mattered in gaining the
American independence. I think she is only moderately successful in
the second endeavor and not successful in the first.
I
have gotten spoiled in how history is told by people like Doris
Kearns Goodwin and David McCullough. Roberts presentation seemed more
flat than robust. There are lots of quotes from historical figures,
about equal from the men and women-that is only a guess. But the
rendition reminded me more of a bad high school history book, than
telling the story of the important women of the Revolution.
The
purpose which Roberts was writing this book was to show the
importance of the women who were associated with the Founding
Fathers. She does highlight them. Some, such as Abigail Adams, were
heavily leaned on by their husbands for political insight and
counsel. But it seemed like a lot of the activity mentioned was: 1)
taking care of the family property and fortunes while the men were
gone-important enough, 2) bearing and taking care of the children, 3)
taking care of the social life, when possible, and 4) being moral
support for the troops.
Cokie
Roberts wrote a book which allowed you to understand that it was not
just the men who were involved in getting the British out of America.
But I came away with the picture more of supporting players-which may
have been all which was allowed at the time--rather than principal
actors in this drama.
Notes from my book group:
OSHER
Book group (Mostly My questions):
What
part did religion have in the women Roberts portrays? Was their
religion shared by the men in their lives? How did that affect their
views on the British? On how to be governed? How does Abigail Adams
statement to her husband, Do
not out such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands. Remember
all men would be tyrants if they could.
Reflect her religious thinking? How does that tie in with John
Locke’s writings?
Benjamin
Franklin wrote to his children: Your
slightest indiscretion will be magnified into crime, in order the
more sensibly to wound and afflict me. It is therefore the more
necessary for you to be extremely circumspect in all your behavior.
Is that fair to the children? To the politician? Why or why not?
How
do other countries view the Revolutionary War? What do they call it?
After
the war was fought, Roberts notes that there was little to hold the
States together. Why did they continue to hold together?
During
the Constitutional Convention, which was really to update the
Articles of Confederacy, the delegates were not to speak about the
proceedings outside of the meeting hall. Why? How would that work in
our day and age? If there was outside communication, how would that
have affected the outcome? O\How would discreet deliberations affect
our politics today? Is there enough trust for that today?
Who
were citizens of the United States in those days? Roberts notes that
there was awareness that these responsibilities [those of being part
of the US] would
require the participation of its citizens.
Who is Roberts talking about?
Many
of these questions are either from or adapted from LitLovers.
- Why the title of Founding Mothers?
- Does this story work as history of the Revolutionary War?
- Did the ending seem fitting? Satisfying?
- Which woman was the most convincing? Least?
- Which woman did you identify with?
- Which one did you dislike?
- Every story has a world view. Were you able to identify this story’s world view? What was it? How did it affect the story?
- In what context was religion talked about in this book?
- Was there anybody you would consider religious?
- How did they show it?
- Was the book overtly religious?
- How did it affect the books story?
- Why do you think the author wrote this book?
- What would you ask the author if you had a chance?
- What “take aways” did you have from this book?
- What central ideas does the author present?
- Are they personal, sociological, global, political, economic, spiritual, medical, or scientific
- What evidence does the author use to support the book's ideas?
- Is the evidence convincing...definitive or...speculative?
- Does the author depends on personal opinion, observation, and assessment? Or is the evidence factual—based on science, statistics, historical documents, or quotations from (credible) experts?
- What implications for you, our nation or the world do these ideas have?
- Are these ideas's controversial?
- To whom and why?
- Describe the culture talked about in the book.
- How is the culture described in this book different than where we live?
- What economic or political situations are described?
- Does the author examine economics and politics, family traditions, the arts, religious beliefs, language or food?
- How did this book affect your view of the world?
- Of how God is viewed?
- What questions did you ask yourself after reading this book?
- Talk about specific passages that struck you as significant—or interesting, profound, amusing, illuminating, disturbing, sad...?
- What was memorable?
1.
What inspired you to read Founding
Mothers?
Why do you suppose the contributions of women in the Revolutionary
era have been largely overlooked by historians? Would the founding of
the nation have occurred without these women?
2.
Which woman would you say had the single greatest impact during the
Revolution? How about during the first years of the new government?
3.
Despite a lack of legal and social rights, including the right to own
property and receive a formal education, how did the women presented
in Founding
Mothers
assert their authority and exercise their intelligence?
4.
How did life differ for women depending on where they lived—the
North versus the South, the city versus rural areas? How else did
geographical circumstances impact their lives?
5.
Women often accompanied their husbands to army camps during the war,
including Martha Washington, Kitty Greene, and Lucy Knox. Were you
surprised they chose to do this? How did these three women in
particular contribute to the often harsh life of a military camp and
foster the war efforts?
6.
By telling the stories of our Founding
Mothers,
this book also sheds light on the men of the time. Did you learn
anything new about these men, including Benjamin Franklin, George
Washington, John Adams, and Alexander Hamilton, seeing them from the
perspective of their female contemporaries?
7.
How important was the "civilizing" role that women played
in the years leading up to, during, and after the Revolution? Can you
reference examples from the book that show how integral it was for
the women to be able to step in and "calm down the men," or
even to act as intermediaries, as Abigail Adams did in the dispute
between her husband and James Madison?
8.
Catharine Macaulay supported the American Revolution and was a vocal
proponent of democratic governments in general. Why did Macaulay, an
Englishwoman, take such an interest in the American cause? How did
she contribute to it?
9.
How did Martha Washington define the role of First Lady? Are her
influences still evident today? Her political savvy was remarkable,
but is there anything that can be learned from Martha Washington on a
personal level?
10.
Only a limited number of women could have accomplished what Abigail
Adams and Mercy Otis Warren did — those who had access to the men
shaping the future of the nation. What about the women who didn't
have the advantage of providing direct counsel or publishing their
discourses? How did they contribute to the Revolutionary War and the
founding of the nation?
11.
Cokie Roberts intersperses her thoughts and commentary throughout the
book. Does this enhance the narrative? In what ways?
New Words:
- Plenipotentiary (5): a person, especially a diplomat, invested with the full power of independent action on behalf of their government, typically in a foreign country.
- Churn (7): a machine or container in which butter is made by agitating milk or cream. (It is used in the book as a hairdo in the form of a churn.
- The Women of the American Revolution by Elizabeth Ellet
- Pioneer Women of America
- Pamela by Richardson
- Poor Richard's Almanac by Benjamin Franklin
- The Adulateur by Mercy Warren
- The Defeat by Mercy Warren
- The History of England by Catharine Macaulay
- The Group by Mercy Warren
- Common Sense by Thomas Paine
- Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare
- Defense of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America by John Adams
- Recollections by Samuel Beck
- The Tempest by John Dryden
- The Federalist Papers by Alexander Hamilton and James Madison
- The Ladies of Castile by Mercy Otis Warren
- The Sack of Rome by Mercy Otis Warren
- Observations on the New Constitution and on the Federal and State Conventions by Mercy Otis Warren
- Letters on Education by Catharine Macaulay
- Dialogues by Plato
- The Commentaries of Caesar by Anthony Trollope (in Latin)
- Poems, Dramatic and Miscellaneous by Mercy Otis Warren
- History of the American Revolution by Mercy Otis Warren
- Vindication of the Rights of Women by Mary Wollstonecraft
- Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelly
- Rights of Man by Thomas Paine
- Memoirs and Recollections of Washington by George Washington Parke Custis
Good Quotes:
- First Line:All of my childhood I heard the stories of my ancestor William Clairborne, who in 1790 went to work for Congress where he met the men we think of as the Founding Fathers.
- Last Line: A salute from the Father of the Country to its Founding Mothers.
- You perceive we have some quarrelsome spirits against the Constitution, but it does not appear to be those of superior judgement. Jane Mecom to Benjamin Franklin, November 9, 1787.
- Before 1775: The road to revolution
- 1775-1776: Independence
- 1776-1778: War and a nascent nation
- 1778-1782: Still more war and home-front activism
- 1782-1787: Peace and diplomacy
- 1787-1789: Constitution and the first election
- After 1789: Raising a nation cast of characters.
References:
- Author's Web Site
- Wikipedia-Author
- Amazon-Book
- Amazon-Author
- GoodReads-Book
- GoodReads-Author
- New York Times Review
- Washington Post Review
- Mount Vernon lecture by Cokie Roberts
- YouTube by Cokie Roberts
- Kahn Academy video
- Library of Congress has a series of pages American Women: Topical Essays
- Martha Washington’s Cookbook’s/Recipe’s
- Amazon: Martha Washington's Booke of Cookery and Booke of Sweetmeats
- Harriott Hiott Horry’s cookbook-A Colonial Plantation Cookbook: The Receipt Book of Harriott Pinckney Horry, 1770
