The Monumentally Motivational Martha Few women of the revolutionary era can compare to the massively influential female figure that is Martha Washington. Fondly attractive and loved by all who knew her, this female pursued her passions in a way all her own. She strove to establish new and helpful schemes for those she cared about. Without Martha the American Revolution as we know it may have been a complete loss to the justice seeking patriots. Born as Martha Dandridge on June 2, 1731 in New Kent County, Virginia, Martha was raised on the Chestnut Grove plantation. At a young age, her parents began instilling upon her the normal responsibilities that would be hers as a future bride. She was also educated at an early age, a rarity to women …show more content…
But what she did lack was a companion to share this all with. In the tight knit community of Virginia, her status as a wealthy widow spread quickly capturing the attention of none other than George Washington. At this time, the young military man had recently inherited the Mount Vernon estate. The tall and well established Washington shared an instantaneous attraction with Martha. Less than 10 months after their initial meeting, and a mere 18 after her husband’s death, the two wed on January 6, …show more content…
She and many other women began a campaign asking for the help of other American women to supply aid to the fellow soldiers of the Continental Army. It was in this way that the women at home found a way to help their husbands, fathers, sons, or brothers and that America developed a sense of unity. These small efforts soon grew into enormous amounts of money as local treasurers sent the donations to Martha who then gave them to her husband to be distributed. Mrs. Washington even gave a record $20,000 to the cause standing as a paradigm to the rest of the adult female population. Martha’s role inspired so many people that she even became enshrined in songs like “Lady Washington’s Reel” in 1777 and “Saw You My Hero, George” in