As a tie-in to our coverage of Betsy Ambler and Ken Burns' American Revolution documentary we decided to revisit Martha. Some called her The Mother of the Country, some curtseyed and called her "Lady Washington," but no one could doubt that she was uniquely capable to shoulder the responsibilities and rigors of both war and diplomacy. Martha Washington's philosophy of "duty over inclination" became the template for future First Ladies in the newly-formed United States of America.

This episode sponsored by:

Hungryroot: Use code CHICKS at Hungryroot.com for 40% off your first box and a free item for life.

Honeylove:Use code HISTORYCHICKS at Honeylove.com/HistoryChicks for 20% off your order.

BLISSY: Use code HISTORYCHICKS at Blissy.com/HistoryChicks for 30% off and a 60-nights risk-free.

Quince: Go to Quince.com/CHICKS for free shipping and 365-day returns.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Martha Washington, 2025