Editing Martha Washington (section)

==First lady of the United States (1789–1797)==
[[File:Brooklyn Museum - The Republican Court (Lady Washington's Reception Day) - Daniel Huntington - overall.jpg|thumb|''Republican Court, or, Lady Washington's Reception Day'' by [[Daniel Huntington (artist)|Daniel Huntington]] ({{Circa|1861}})]]
After the war, Washington was not fully supportive of her husband's agreeing to be president of the newly formed United States.<ref>{{cite web |title=The First First Lady |url=https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/martha-washington/the-first-first-lady/ |website=mountvernon.org |publisher=[[Mount Vernon Ladies' Association]] |access-date=May 25, 2019}}</ref> She did not immediately join him at the capital in [[New York City]], only arriving in May 1789.<ref name="diller"/> The journey was followed by the press, which was unprecedented in the attention that it paid to a woman's actions, and the entourage was met with admirers and fanfare in each town that it passed through. It was during this journey that she gave her only public speech as first lady, thanking those that came to see her.<ref name="watson"/>{{Rp|page=15}} She arrived on the presidential barge, escorted by her husband, immediately establishing the president's wife as a public figure.<ref name="caroli">{{Cite book |last=Caroli |first=Betty Boyd |author-link=Betty Boyd Caroli |url=https://archive.org/details/firstladiesfromm0000caro |title=First Ladies: From Martha Washington to Michelle Obama |publisher=Oxford University Press, USA |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-19-539285-2 |pages=3–8 |language=en}}</ref>{{Rp|page=3}} After arriving at the capital, Washington became the inaugural [[first lady of the United States]], though the term would not be used until later. Instead, she was referred to as "Lady Washington".<ref name="feinberg">{{Cite book |last=Feinberg |first=Barbara Silberdick |url=https://archive.org/details/americasfirstlad0000fein |title=America's First Ladies: Changing Expectations |publisher=Franklin Watts |year=1998 |isbn=9780531113790 |pages=}}</ref>{{Rp|page=13}}

As the inaugural first lady, many of Washington's practices in the White House became traditions for future first ladies, including the opening of the White House to the public on [[New Year's Day]], a practice that would continue until the [[Hoover administration]].<ref name="diller"/> She hosted many affairs of state at New York City and [[Philadelphia]] during their years as temporary capitals.<ref name="boller"/>{{Rp|page=6}} Taking her responsibility as the lady of the house seriously, Washington returned the official calls of every lady that left her card at the heavily-trafficked presidential home to ensure that everyone could reach the president, always doing so within three days.<ref name="caroli"/>{{Rp|pages=6–7}}

Washington was also tasked by her husband with the responsibility of hosting [[drawing room]] events on Fridays in which ladies were permitted to attend.<ref name="caroli"/>{{Rp|page=5}} She would remain seated during such events while the president greeted their guests.<ref name="gould"/>{{Rp|page=9}} The guests were at first uncertain as to whether they should follow the royal custom of waiting for the hostess to leave before they do, and she resolved the issue by announcing her husband always retired at nine.<ref name="caroli"/>{{Rp|page=6}} She was careful during these events to avoid political talk, encouraging a change of subject when it came up.<ref name="boller"/>{{Rp|page=6}} The social circles that developed among those in American politics at this time became known as the [[Republican Court]].<ref>{{cite journal |last=Shields |first=David S. |last2=Teute |first2=Fredrika J. |title=The Republican Court and the Historiography of a Women's Domain in the Public Sphere |journal=Journal of the Early Republic |date=June 2015 |volume=35 |issue=2 |pages=169–183 |doi=10.1353/jer.2015.0033 |jstor=24486727 |s2cid=144440598 }}</ref>

=== Personal life ===
[[File:Edward Savage - The Washington Family - Google Art Project.jpg|thumb|''The Washington Family'' by [[Edward Savage (artist)|Edward Savage]]]]The first presidential residence was a house on [[Cherry Street (Manhattan)|Cherry Street]], followed by a house on [[Broadway (Manhattan)|Broadway]]. The capital was moved to [[Philadelphia]] in 1790, and the presidential residence again moved,<ref name="caroli"/>{{Rp|page=7}} this time to a house on High Street (now [[Market Street (Philadelphia)|Market Street]]).<ref name="gould"/>{{Rp|page=10}} Washington much preferred the Philadelphia residence, as it had a greater social life and was closer to Mount Vernon.<ref name="schneider"/>{{Rp|page=8}} Early in her husband's presidency, she had little opportunity to go out, as any action she took would have political implications.<ref name="gould"/>{{Rp|page=|pages=9–10}} After their move to Philadelphia, the Washingtons loosened their self-imposed limits on personal activity.<ref name="gould"/>{{Rp|page=11}} While serving as first lady, Washington became close to Polly Lear, the wife of her husband's secretary [[Tobias Lear]].<ref name="schneider"/>{{Rp|page=8}} She also associated with [[Lucy Flucker Knox]], wife of war secretary [[Henry Knox]], and [[Abigail Adams]], the [[Second ladies and gentlemen of the United States|second lady]].<ref name="gould"/>{{Rp|page=10}} The time she spent with her grandchildren was another high point for Washington, who would sometimes take them to shows and museums.<ref name="feinberg"/>{{Rp|page=60}} She also made a point of frequently attending church, owing to her firm [[Episcopalian]] beliefs.<ref name="watson"/>{{Rp|page=12}}

Washington was forced to take control of the presidential residence at one point shortly after her husband's presidency began, forbidding guests from entering, as he was undergoing the removal of a tumor.<ref name="feinberg"/>{{Rp|pages=67–68}} In July 1790, artist [[John Trumbull]] gave Washington a full-length portrait painting of her husband as a gift. It was displayed in their home at Mount Vernon in the New Room.<ref name="mountvernon">{{cite web|title=Painting by Washington's Aide de Camp Now on View at Mount Vernon|url=http://www.mountvernon.org/about/news/article/painting-by-washingtons-aide-de-camp-now-on-view-at-mount-vernon/|publisher=[[Mount Vernon Ladies' Association]]|date=December 9, 2014}}</ref> When Washington learned that her husband might take on a second term as president, she uncharacteristically protested against the decision. Despite her opposition, he was reelected in 1793, and she reluctantly accepted four more years as the wife of the president.<ref name="schneider"/>{{Rp|page=8}} The young [[Georges Washington de La Fayette]] joined the Washington family in 1795 while his father, [[Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette|Marquis de Lafayette]], was held as a political prisoner in France. He would live with the Washingtons until fall of 1797.<ref name="gould"/>{{Rp|page=12}} In 1796, Washington's slave and personal maid [[Oney Judge]] escaped and fled to New Hampshire. Despite Washington's insistence to her husband that Judge should be returned and again should be Washington's slave, the president did not attempt to pursue Judge.<ref name="longo"/> Washington's tenure as first lady ended in 1797.<ref name="schneider"/>{{Rp|page=8}}

=== Public image ===
[[File:Lady Washington MET DT2081.jpg|thumb|upright|''Lady Washington'' by [[Charles Willson Peale]] (date unknown)]]
As the wife of both the [[head of government]] and the [[head of state]], Washington was immediately faced with the pressure of representing the United States. She had to present the United States as a dignified nation to establish credibility among the countries of Europe, but she also had to respect the spirit of democracy by refusing to present herself as a queen.<ref name="schneider"/>{{Rp|page=7}} She was also aware that the precedent she set would be inherited by future presidential wives.<ref name="feinberg"/>{{Rp|page=19}} Washington balanced these responsibilities by playing the role of a social hostess at presidential events, a role that would become the primary function of the first lady. In turn, this made the position of first lady an important point of contact between the president and the people.<ref name="beasley"/>{{Rp|pages=27–29}}

Washington presented an image of herself as an amiable wife, but privately she complained about the restrictions placed on her life.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Firkus |first=Angela |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1239322450 |title=America's Early Women Celebrities: The Famous and Scorned from Martha Washington to Silent Film Star Mary Fuller. |date=2021 |publisher=McFarland Publishers |isbn=978-1-4766-4184-3 |location=Jefferson, NC |pages=18–22 |oclc=1239322450}}</ref> She found the pageantry of the presidency to be boring and artificial.<ref name="watson"/>{{Rp|page=12}} Washington was not exempt from the political attacks often levied at her husband's administration by opposition-owned newspapers. While her social role was celebrated by her husband's supporters, the [[Anti-Federalism|anti-Federalists]] criticized her as emulating royalty and encouraging aristocracy.<ref name="beasley"/>{{Rp|pages=29–30}} At the same time, other critics accused her social activities of being too informal.<ref name="feinberg"/>{{Rp|page=19}} To her displeasure, she found that she was constantly the subject of public attention, and she was forced to pay increased attention to her hair and clothes each day.<ref name="gould"/>{{Rp|page=|pages=9–10}} Despite this, she still opted to dress simply in homespun clothes, feeling that it was more appropriate in a republic.<ref name="feinberg"/>{{Rp|page=37}}