The 'Founding Mothers' is the name usually attributed to the women who took on the partroit cause. The contributions made by women during the war extended from women's associations such as the Ladies Association in Philadelphia, an organization that raised over $300,000 for the cause. Martha Washington took the charge of delievering the money to her husband while he was in camp. The Medical Corps was another group that employed one woman at $8.00 per month plus one meal for every ten wounded. This was unheard of in 1777, women getting paid for their services!!!! In addition, many women such as Sarah Decker worked the front lines, carrying military dispatches and letters from the enlisted to loved ones. These women played a vital role in winning the Revolutionary war.
And then there was Abigail Adams, the wife of John Adams who was hands down the defender of women's rights at a time when women had no social, political, or economic rights. Abigail was of the opinion that women were viewed in respect to their male counterparts, not of their own accord. In a letter Abigail wrote to John before the Declaration of Independence was signed she reminded him and of his duty to convey to the Continential Congress to "Remember the Ladies"...imagine that...Abigail wanted a conversation regarding women's rights before the signing of the Declaration of Independence. If for nothing else the letter portrays Abigail Adams as THE 'Founding Mother' among the 'Founding Mothers' during the war. She was clearly a visionary at a time that spent little time on the plight of women. Abigail Adams stood her ground, just as the founding fathers stood their ground towards British injustice.
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