Harriet Lane

Class Date: October 1st

Location: Your couch! See your weekly e-mail for Zoom link!

As the United States grappled with expansion and issues of slavery, women were also making their voices heard. He is a brief overview of the events of the time and an overview of the first ladies that preceded Harriet Lane in the Executive Mansion with President Buchannan:

• 1789 - 1794 - Martha Dandridge Custis Washington

The very first ‘First Lady’ set the standard for the role of the spouse in the White House. She set precedent by serving as the national hostess and was beloved by many for spending winters in the military camps with her husband during the American Revolution. Though she and George never lived in the White House as we know it today, she hosted many dinners with dignitaries and officials, welcoming all she could to ‘the people’s house’. 

• 1790 - Enslaved population is just over 690,000

According to the 1790 census, 697,681 people in the new country were held in forced bondage. That population will swell to almost 4 million by 1860, 3.5 million of whom live in the Southern states that will ultimately secede. 

• 1797 - 1801 - Abigail Smith Adams

The first couple to live at The White House as we know it today. The Adams family moved into the still-unfinished White House in 1800, spending the last few months of the presidency there. Abigail is most often remembered for expressing her political opinions to her husband, famously asking him to “remember the ladies” as he helped write the Constitution. 

• 1799 - Eli Whitney invents the American System of Manufacturing

Though he is best known as the inventor of the cotton gin, the invention of which fueled the southern economy and tied it even more heavily to enslaved labor, Eli Whitney applied his techniques of production to things beyond his invented machine. Observing a fear of a war with France, he turned to mass producing arms. The Manufacturing System used semi-skilled labor, machine tools, and jigs to make interchangeable, standard parts to aid assembly line labor. The system first manufactured 10,000 muskets for the US Government. To read more about Whitney, click here: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/theymadeamerica/whomade/whitney_hi.html

• 1801 - 1809 - Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson

Martha Jefferson never saw her husband assume office, as she passed in 1782. Jefferson occasionally asked his oldest daughter, Martha Jefferson Randolph, to serve the role as hostess, but more often than not, he relied on Dolley Madison, James Madison’s wife and future First Lady in her own right, to take on the role of hostess and planner. 

• 1804 - Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr duel

Longtime political rivals, Hamilton ultimately dies as a result. To read more about the duel, click here: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/duel-alexander-hamilton-and-aaron-burrs-duel/

• 1809 - 1817 - Dolley Payne Todd Madison

Dolley Madison is perhaps most famous for saving a portrait of George Washington when the British set fire to the White House during the War of 1812.  But this consummate hostess was much more than a daring portrait rescuer; she was known for her charm and gentle grace, hosting for both the Jefferson White House, as well as her husband’s.

• 1817 - 1825 - Elizabeth Kortright Monroe

Though she was influential during Monroe’s early political career, Elizabeth grew increasingly ill during their tenure in the White House, often leaving the role of social coordinator to her oldest daughter Eliza. Her youngest daughter, Maria, was married in the White House, the first presidential child to be married there and only the second wedding. 

• 1825 - 1829 - Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams

Louisa was the first First Lady to be born outside the United States (or colonies). She was actually born in London while her father served as US consul. After marrying John, she moved with him to his various diplomatic posts, including Berlin, Paris, and St. Petersburg. She became the consummate political hostess, and openly voiced her support for equal rights for women, much to her husband’s dismay, but to the encouragement of her mother in law, former First Lady, Abigail Adams. 

• 1829 - 1837 - Rachel Donelson Jackson

Rachel only lived to see her husband win his election; she died 3 months before he was inaugurated. Though Rachel often calmed her husband’s anger, she endured much while he was on the campaign trail; newspapers and gossip hounded her about her first marriage and subsequent divorce. Rachel’s niece served as White House hostess until her death, then Rachel’s daughter in law took over the role for the end of Jackson’s second term. 

• 1837 - 1841 - Hannah Hoes Van Buren

Hannah Van Buren remains largely lost to history; she died of tuberculosis in 1819 before becoming First Lady and Martin Van Buren did not write about her in his biography or speak about her to his children. He never remarried, leaving the running of the house to his daughter in-law, Angelica. 

• 1841 - Anna Tuthill Symmes Harrison

Anna never even officially hosted an event in the White House; she missed her husband’s inauguration because she felt ill. William Harrison died just one month after he was inaugurated, so Anna never even got the chance to live at the stately Presidential home. She had hosted many political dinners and events while her husband served in Congress, however, and was well known to the political elite. 

• 1841 - 1842 - Letitia Christian Tyler

Letitia never planned to serve as First Lady; she didn’t even plan to move to Washington while her husband served his term as Vice President, choosing to remain in their Williamsburg, Virginia home. After William Harrison’s sudden death, the Tyler family made the move to the White House and Letitia assumed the role. However, after a stroke confined her to her White House bedroom, Letitia only acted as household manager until her death in 1842. 

• 1844 - 1845 - Julia Gardiner Tyler

Julia married John Tyler after a secret engagement near the end of his term as president. Despite their secret relationship, once she became First Lady, she quickly became popular in Washington social circles. While the last few presidents had lacked strong First Ladies due to death or illness, Julia brought her youth to bear (she was 30 years younger than her husband) and entertained in grand fashion during their last 8 months in office. Julia had modeled as a young lady, so she didn’t shy away from the press or attention. She became the first First Lady to to be photographed and she allowed the picture to be circulated among the press. 

• 1844 - First telegram is sent

Sent from the U.S. Capitol to Baltimore. Samuel Morse tapped out “what hath God wrought” for the first message. 

• 1845 - 1849 - Sarah Childress Polk

Though Sarah’s Presbyterian beliefs kept her from drinking alcohol and dancing, her White House events were long remembered for being elegant and fashionable. She was well educated and well versed in politics and current affairs, often offering political advice to her husband. She favored new technology, overseeing gas lighting in the White House and embracing the railroad for travel. 

• 1848 - Seneca Falls Convention

The first organized women’s rights convention was held in Seneca Falls, New York. Organized by Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, the convention attracted 300 attendees and many signed the Declaration of Sentiments, declaring that women should be granted equal rights and the right to vote. The Convention sparked decades of activism and many more speaking venues for prominent suffragette supporters.

• 1848 - Gold is discovered in California

James Marshall discovers gold near Sutter’s Fort (or John Sutter’s sawmill) in California. The next year begins the great gold rush, and migration, to California. 

• 1849 - Elizabeth Blackwell graduates

Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman to graduate from medical school and become a doctor in the United States. Born in England, Elizabeth came to America and graduated from Geneva College in New York. She had the highest grades of her graduating class. 

• 1849 - Harriet Tubman escapes slavery

She freed herself, but returned to the south 13 more times to ‘conduct’ others out of slavery, eventually freeing some 70 people.

• 1849 - 1850 - Margaret “Peggy” Mackall Smith Taylor

Peggy remained committed to her Episcopal faith throughout her husband’s political career, attending church daily. Though she did not host any social functions, leaving that to her daughter, Elizabeth, she did manage the household ordering and never failed to put a good word in for her husband at church.

• 1850 - Compromise of 1850

  • As tensions continued to mount over the issue of slavery, Congress struggled to find ways to keep the Union together. The Compromise was intended to hold the Union together, which it did for another few years. Congress agreed to the following provisions:

    • California was admitted to the Union as a free state

    • The territories of New Mexico and Utah were given to option of legalizing slavery

    • The New Mexico/Texas border was fixed

    • A stronger Fugitive Slave Law was enacted to return escaped fugitives to slavery

    • The District of Columbia ended the trade of enslaved people but they did continue legal slavery. 

• 1852 - Uncle Tom’s Cabin is published

U.S. Abolitionist and writer publishes her novel examining slavery, which sells 300,000 copies in the first year. The novel profoundly affected attitudes toward African Americans and slavery in general. 

• 1850 - 1853 - Abigail Powers Fillmore

Hannah Van Buren remains largely lost to history; she died of tuberculosis in 1819 before becoming First Lady and Martin Van Buren did not write about her in his biography or speak about her to his children. He never remarried, leaving the running of the house to his daughter in-law, Angelica. 

• 1853 - 1857 - Jane Means Appleton Pierce

Jane actually disliked politics and initially refused to move to the White House. She had lost 2 of her 3 sons and didn’t want to leave her home. When she finally agreed to move to Washington, her 3rd son was killed on the way in a train accident. For the first 2 years of her tenure as First Lady she wasn’t seen in public. The wives of Cabinet members often served as social hostess during this period.

• 1854 - The Kansas Nebraska Act

Legislation guided by Senator Stephen Douglas repeal the Missouri Compromise. The repeal led to violence in Kansas, named ‘Bleeding Kansas’ by the newspapers. The passage of the act inspired Abraham Lincoln to involve himself in politics, setting the stage for his White House run. 

• 1858 - The Lincoln-Douglas debates

Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas engage in a series of debates, some of which included the subject of human enslavement. The debates caught the attention of the country and tensions only continued to mount.

• 1859 - John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry

Abolitionist John Brown, after seeking help from ‘General’ Harriet Tubman, leads a raid on the federal arsenal in Harper’s Ferry. The hope was that the attack would inspire a revolt among enslaved people, furthering the country along the path to war. Many abolitionists felt that war was necessary to end the scourge of slavery. 

That is where our timeline leaves us for this week! Check below for additional reading resources and tune in this week to hear how these often unsung women steered the course of history!

To read more about this period, here are some great books to get you started:

For Kids:

For Adults:

https://www.thoughtco.com/the-compromise-of-1850-1773985

https://www.thoughtco.com/timeline-1800s-4161075

https://www.history.com/topics/womens-history/womens-history-us-timeline

https://www.ushistory.org/us/9f.asp

https://www.constitutionfacts.com/us-declaration-of-independence/the-five-riders/

https://www.ushistory.org/us/10e.asp