The Founding Fathers: Washington; Adams; Jefferson, and Franklin; all are well-known names held in the highest regard for their contributions to the founding of the nation. But they didn’t do it alone! The struggle for independence included many women whose contributions were critical in shaping America’s destiny. Unsung for two centuries, recent scholarship has shed a much greater light on the contributions of the founding mothers, at last giving them the accord they richly deserve. Our session will examine the lives of women from all social strata who dedicated themselves to the cause of American Independence.