The most well known icons of our nation’s history, the founding fathers, developed our Declaration of Independence, led us into the war for independence, and wrote the laws of our government.

However, while the majority of people, including women, were excluded from those moments in history, their contributions to the forming of our nation were enormous. In a multi-part series, Civics Shorts focuses on some of the women journalist Cokie Roberts called “the founding mothers.” 

First up: the four wives of our founding fathers: Martha Washington, Abigail Adams, Dolly Madison, and Eliza Hamilton.