Evelyn Ramirez
Marlene Soto
History Dolley Madison
5/4/17
Task: Research Report

Introduction

Dolley Madison was one of the most influential person at her time and her effects are still with us today. She lived through an epidemic that killed her first husband and second son. She even risked her life during the War of 1812 for a painting of George Washington when the British soldiers were going to burn the White House.

Early Life

Dolley Payne, later known as Dolley Madison, was born on May 20, 1768 in New Garden, North Carolina. New Garden is a Quaker settlement which her family left, 10 months after Dolley was born. They moved to a plantation in Virginia, which was …show more content…
She had her first child, John Payne, in 1792. Later in the same year, Dolley’s father pass away. A year after having her first child, she had another child named William in 1793 but in the same summer, an epidemic of yellow fever spread quickly in Philadelphia. The disease killed Dolley’s husband and second son in the same day. Dolley, at the age of 25, became a widow with a son to take care of. In 1784, Madison asked one of his fellow friends, Aaron Burr, to introduce him to Dolley. A few months later, Madison offered a proposal of marriage to Dolley which Dolley accept but in order to marry him, she had to give up her religion They were married on September 5, 1794 and later stay in Philadelphia for a few more …show more content…
Dolley and Madison moved to Washington with the slaves that they owned. During Jefferson's presidency, Dolley was often called to serve as the first lady at official functions. In the year of 1808. the Democratic-Republican party nominated James Madison to become President. Madison won two terms for office which was from 1809 to 1817. During Madison’s presidency, the War of 1812 happened. The War of 1812 was a conflict between Great Britain and America for reasons such as British support for Native Americans and the British impressment of American Sailors. One critical event during this war, was the British soldiers burning the White House on August 24, 1814. On August 24, 1814, the British soldier were approaching the White House and all of the main guards have already evacuated while Dolley Madison insisted that she would not leave until the portrait of George Washington was in safe keeping. Dolley ordered the servant to break to the frame of the painting and take the painting to a safe place. Dolley, who now know that the painting is safe, is one of the last people to leave the White House. As Dolley later wrote in one of her letter to her sister, it said “ and now, dear sister, I must leave this house, or the retreating army will make me a prisoner in it by filling the road I am directed to take.” Although there was no clear winner of War of 1812, the impact on America it had