grandchildren. In 1789, George Washington was again called to serve Name his country. This time he was asked to become the first President of the United States. George and Martha traveled to New York City, the capital of this new country. They spent the next eight years as America's first couple. Martha again earned the respect and love of Martha Washington her countrymen. The couple returned to Mount Vernon after George Washington had completed two terms as president. Martha died in By Jane Runyon 1802, three years after her greatly loved husband.

Martha Dandridge never dreamed she would become the First Lady of a brand new country. Her father came to the colonies from England Martha Washington long before she was born. Martha was the eldest of eight Dandridge children. When she turned nineteen, she married a much older Questions plantation manager named Daniel Parke Custis. Martha was quite happy to be this man's wife and raise the four children they had together. Life doesn't always turn out the way you think it will, 1. Martha Dandridge was born in England. however. The happy couple had been married seven years when Mr. A. false Custis suddenly died. Two of her children died within a short period. B. true How was a young widow with two small children going to survive? 2. Martha was raised to be the First Lady of the land. Martha was very fortunate to meet a slightly younger plantation A. false owner. Two years after her husband's death, Martha Dandridge Custis B. true married George Washington. They moved to his plantation, Mount Vernon. There they set about making a home for themselves and her 3. What job did Martha's first husband have? two remaining children. George and Martha enjoyed the life of country gentry. George had already become involved in local politics. A. delegate to the Continental Congress He had served in the British army during the French and Indian War. B. military Now he wanted to farm and keep active in the politics of the colonies. C. plantation manager George was selected for the First Continental Congress and then D. town clerk elected to the Second Continental Congress. Martha was right there supporting him. He was selected to be the Commander of the 4. How many of Martha's children lived? Continental Army before the beginning of the Revolutionary War. A. three Martha supported his decision. B. four C. one Many men in the army traveled with their families. Martha D. two Washington traveled with General George Washington much of the time. She kept his headquarters clean. She arranged for the officers' 5. How did Martha Washington help her husband during the laundry to be washed, dried, and ironed. She gathered needed Revolutionary War? supplies. She saw to it that decent meals were prepared. She tended to the sick and wounded. She cried and prayed with members of the men's families. It seemed that when anything needed to be done for the men, Martha Washington saw that it was taken care of.

When the Revolutionary War was over and the colonists had freed themselves from British rule, Martha returned to her beloved Mount Vernon. She now took on the responsibility of raising two of her Name

6. What conclusion can you draw about how the colonists felt about Martha Washington?

7. What was the first capital of the United States? A. Mount Vernon B. Washington, D.C. C. New York City D. Philadelphia 8. Martha Washington died before her husband. A. false B. true

What do you think life would be like for the wife of an army officer? Describe it. Name

What do you think life would be like for a woman in colonial days? Describe it.