"Founding Mothers" by Cokie Roberts - Islington Branch Book Club - Past Titles

About the Author: Cokie Roberts

Cokie Roberts, whose full name is Mary Martha Corinne Morrison Claiborne Roberts, was an American journalist and author known for her contributions to political commentary and historical writing. Here is a brief biography of Cokie Roberts:

Early Life:

Cokie Roberts was born on December 27, 1943, in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
She was part of a prominent political family; her father, Hale Boggs, was a U.S. Representative from Louisiana, and her mother, Lindy Boggs, succeeded her father in Congress after his plane disappeared in 1972.

Education:

Roberts attended the Academy of the Sacred Heart, a Catholic girls' school in New Orleans.
She later studied at Wellesley College in Massachusetts, earning a degree in political science.

Journalistic Career:

Cokie Roberts began her career in journalism as a reporter for WRC-TV in Washington, D.C.
She joined National Public Radio (NPR) in 1978 as a congressional correspondent, quickly becoming a well-respected voice in political reporting.
Roberts later worked for ABC News as a political commentator and analyst.

Books and Writing:

In addition to her broadcast work, Cokie Roberts was a prolific author, writing several books on history and politics.
One of her notable works is "Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation," published in 2004, which explores the roles of women during the American Revolutionary War.
She also co-authored books with her husband, journalist Steven V. Roberts.

Awards and Recognition:

Cokie Roberts received numerous awards throughout her career, including three Emmy Awards.
She was recognized for her contributions to journalism, political commentary, and her commitment to highlighting the historical contributions of women.

Advocacy and Civic Engagement:

Roberts was actively involved in various civic and cultural organizations.
She advocated for the recognition of women's contributions to American history and society.

Legacy:

Cokie Roberts was admired for her insightful political commentary, historical expertise, and commitment to journalism.
Her books, especially "Founding Mothers," have been praised for shedding light on the often overlooked roles of women in shaping the United States.

Personal Life:

Cokie Roberts was married to journalist Steven V. Roberts, and they had two children.
She faced health challenges later in life, including breast cancer, but continued her work in journalism and writing.

Cokie Roberts passed away on September 17, 2019, leaving behind a legacy of journalistic excellence and a body of work that continues to inform and inspire readers interested in American history and politics.

Synopsis

Cokie Roberts's number one New York Times bestseller, We Are Our Mothers' Daughters, examined the nature of women's roles throughout history and led USA Today to praise her as a "custodian of time-honored values." Her second bestseller, From This Day Forward, written with her husband, Steve Roberts, described American marriages throughout history, including the romance of John and Abigail Adams. Now Roberts returns with Founding Mothers, an intimate and illuminating look at the fervently patriotic and passionate women whose tireless pursuits on behalf of their families -- and their country -- proved just as crucial to the forging of a new nation as the rebellion that established it. While much has been written about the men who signed the Declaration of Independence, battled the British, and framed the Constitution, the wives, mothers, sisters, and daughters they left behind have been little noticed by history. Roberts brings us the women who fought the Revolution as valiantly as the men, often defending their very doorsteps. While the men went off to war or to Congress, the women managed their businesses, raised their children, provided them with political advice, and made it possible for the men to do what they did.

Discussion Questions

Cokie Roberts focuses on the contributions of women during the founding of the United States. How does "Founding Mothers" reshape our understanding of the nation's history by highlighting the roles of women?
The book covers a diverse group of women, including Abigail Adams, Martha Washington, and others. How did the experiences and perspectives of these women differ, and what common challenges did they face during this historical period?
Discuss the societal expectations and limitations placed on women during the Revolutionary War era. In what ways did these women challenge or navigate these expectations to contribute to the founding of the nation?
Abigail Adams is a prominent figure in the book. How did her correspondence with John Adams provide insight into her political views and influence the decisions of the Founding Fathers?
Cokie Roberts highlights the friendships and networks among women during this period. How did these connections contribute to the social and political fabric of the time?
The book covers both well-known figures and lesser-known women. Whose story resonated with you the most, and why?
Explore the role of education for women during the Revolutionary War era. How did education, or the lack thereof, impact their ability to contribute to the founding of the nation?
Consider the influence of the Founding Mothers on the shaping of political ideas and policies. In what ways did their perspectives contribute to the formation of the early American government?
"Founding Mothers" emphasizes the sacrifices made by women on the home front during the war. How did women manage their households, businesses, and families in the absence of their husbands and sons?
Discuss the intersectionality of the experiences of women during this time, considering factors such as race and social class. How did the experiences of enslaved women differ from those of white women, for example?
Cokie Roberts explores the impact of war on family life. How did the Revolutionary War strain or strengthen family ties, and how did women cope with the challenges of war?
Reflect on the legacy of the Founding Mothers. In what ways did their contributions shape the trajectory of women's roles in American society, and how is their impact felt today?

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Glory, Passion, and Principle by Melissa Lukeman Bohrer
Call Number: 973.3 Bohrer
Much has been written of the brave deeds, acts of heroism, and intellectual prowess of the men who drafted the Declaration of Independence over two hundred years ago, yet almost no attention has been paid to the extraordinary women of that time -- women who helped found our nation with courage, sacrifice, and intellect equal to any of the famed male politicians of 1776. Glory, Passion, and Principle tells the story of eight incredible women, each deprived of formal education, world travel, or equal status, and yet all managed to flourish against incredible odds. Whether advising such men as John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, or Benjamin Franklin on political theory; publishing poems and plays that would rouse a nation to independent furor; helping negotiate treaties; acting as spies; or fighting alongside men in the military -- these women broke the limiting definitions imposed upon them, much as America was doing for itself, and helped form and found the country that is America today. Each chapter is dedicated to a different woman, starting with Abigail Adams, political confidante and wife of John Adams. Using her intellect to influence her husband's position in the Continental Congress, she earned the distinction of being the only person to put Thomas Jefferson in his place. Nancy Ward, the brave and diplomatic leader of the Cherokee tribe, matured from a young widow to bold warrior, risking her life and those of her people when she warned the Patriots of imminent attack by Native American tribes. She became a strong voice when the Treaty of Hopewell was signed in 1785.Yet another bright light was Sybil Ludington, a seventeen-year-old who took it upon herself to alert her town's militia that the British were coming, and survived a ride twice as long as Paul Revere's. And where Revere got caught, Ludington did not. Alongside Ludington, Adams, and Ward, the five other chapters chronicle the lives of Deborah Sampson, Lydia Darragh, Mercy Otis Warren, Phillis Wheatley, and Molly Hays. Filled with unimaginable heartbreak, personal sacrifice, and cunning survival skills, Glory, Passion, and Principle is an inspiring testament to the women who undoubtedly made a considerable dent in our great nation's history.
The Quartet by Joseph J. Ellis
Call Number: 973.3 Ellis
From Pulitzer Prize-winning American historian Joseph J. Ellis, the unexpected story of why the thirteen colonies, having just fought off the imposition of a distant centralized governing power, would decide to subordinate themselves anew. We all know the famous opening phrase of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address: "Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this Continent a new Nation." The truth is different. In 1776, thirteen American colonies declared themselves independent states that only temporarily joined forces in order to defeat the British. Once victorious, they planned to go their separate ways. The triumph of the American Revolution was neither an ideological nor a political guarantee that the colonies would relinquish their independence and accept the creation of a federal government with power over their autonomy as states. The Quartet is the story of this second American founding and of the men most responsible--George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison. These men, with the help of Robert Morris and Gouverneur Morris, shaped the contours of American history by diagnosing the systemic dysfunctions created by the Articles of Confederation, manipulating the political process to force the calling of the Constitutional Convention, conspiring to set the agenda in Philadelphia, orchestrating the debate in the state ratifying conventions, and, finally, drafting the Bill of Rights to assure state compliance with the constitutional settlement. Ellis has given us a gripping and dramatic portrait of one of the most crucial and misconstrued periods in American history: the years between the end of the Revolution and the formation of the federal government. The Quartet unmasks a myth, and in its place presents an even more compelling truth--one that lies at the heart of understanding the creation of the United States of America.
Killing England by Bill O'Reilly; Martin Dugard
Call Number: 973.3 O'Reilly
The Revolutionary War as never told before. This breathtaking installment in Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard's mega-bestselling Killing series transports readers to the most important era in our nation's history: the Revolutionary War. Told through the eyes of George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and Great Britain's King George III, Killing England chronicles the path to independence in gripping detail, taking the reader from the battlefields of America to the royal courts of Europe. What started as protest and unrest in the colonies soon escalated to a world war with devastating casualties. O'Reilly and Dugard recreate the war's landmark battles, including Bunker Hill, Long Island, Saratoga, and Yorktown, revealing the savagery of hand-to-hand combat and the often brutal conditions under which these brave American soldiers lived and fought. Also here is the reckless treachery of Benedict Arnold and the daring guerrilla tactics of the "Swamp Fox" Frances Marion. A must read, Killing England reminds one and all how the course of history can be changed through the courage and determination of those intent on doing the impossible.
Women in the American Revolution by Jeanne Munn Bracken (Editor)
Call Number: JUVENILE 973.3 Women
Women in the American Revolution picks up where usual historical accounts of the Revolutionary War leave off -- with the varied roles and contributions of women in camp, on the homefront, and serving as spies, messengers, and soldiers. This anthology of letters, journals, and eyewitness accounts tells a part of the story of women who helped on both sides of the war, from colonist Molly Pitcher to Hessian Baroness von Riedesel, from messenger Deborah Champion to soldier Deborah Sampson.