The Founding Mothers Who Helped Birth America
This Mother’s Day, as we honor the women who nurture our homes and hold our hearts, let’s remember those whose faithful influence helped shape not just families but a nation.
We often speak of America’s Founding Fathers, but history was not forged by men alone. Behind the battlefields and the 56 signatures on the Declaration of Independence were women whose prayers, perseverance, and faith in God quietly held the soul of the Revolution together. They upheld biblical truth, raised patriotic sons and daughters, and demonstrated an unshakable trust in God’s providence. These were the Founding Mothers. While their names may be lesser known, their legacy is etched in eternity.
Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams, serves as one of the most powerful examples. She raised six children while her husband helped birth the republic, including John Quincy Adams, who would become the sixth U.S. president. But she wasn’t just a supportive spouse — she was a prophetic voice. In a now-famous letter penned in 1776, she urged her husband to “remember the ladies,” advocating for women’s inclusion in the national conversation. She reminded him that the principles of liberty extended beyond legislation and must take root in the moral and spiritual foundation of homes. Her deep faith and wisdom helped anchor one of the most influential families in American history.
Phillis Wheatley, the first African American woman to publish a book of poetry, was brought to America in chains. Writing about freedom while still enslaved, her words stirred the conscience of a young country, declaring that liberty belonged to everyone. In a poem dedicated to George Washington, she emphasized God's divine justice and the inherent dignity of every person, highlighting that the struggle for freedom must include those who have suffered from oppression.
Elizabeth Freeman, known as “Mum Bett,” was another woman of faith and courage. Enslaved in Massachusetts, she heard the words of the state constitution — “all men are born free and equal” — and took them to heart. She sued for her freedom and won, helping to pave the way for the abolition of slavery in the state. Her life reminds us that God often uses the “least of these” (Matthew 25:40) to bring about His justice.
Martha Washington played a crucial role in supporting George Washington during the American Revolution. She spent nearly half of the war away from their home in Mount Vernon, frequently traveling to join her husband in camp. Almost every winter, she would join the encampment to boost morale. As a gracious hostess, Martha regularly walked through the snow to converse with the troops, who often gathered to listen to her. She became the female voice in the Washington family, organizing women to tend to the soldiers and offer prayers for the dying.
An Enduring Legacy
These women didn’t fight with muskets, but with faith, compassion, and conviction. They clung to biblical truth when hope seemed lost, and they believed in a better future even when they had reasons to feel discouraged. Like the Hebrew midwives in Exodus or Esther before the king, they used the influence they had, however limited by society, to carry out God’s plan.
They also remind us of a deep biblical truth: God uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things. The Apostle Paul wrote, “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise … so that no one may boast before Him” (1 Corinthians 1:27-29). These women didn’t seek the spotlight — but they were faithful in their callings, and their impact endures.
Today, American mothers still carry that legacy. In an era marked by cultural confusion and spiritual drift, it’s often women who hold fast to truth, who disciple the next generation and who intercede for their families and communities. They fight battles no one sees, be it on their knees in prayer, or in conversations around the dinner table.
The courage it took to survive the harsh winter of Valley Forge is not unlike the courage it takes today to raise a godly child in a godless world. The resolve it took to speak out for justice mirrors the resolve it takes to lead a family through cultural confusion now. We are still in need of mothers like Abigail, Martha, Phillis, and Elizabeth, who remind us that freedom begins at home, nurtured in prayer and rooted in truth.
This Mother’s Day, let us not only thank the moms in our lives — we must also see them. See their sacrifices, their spiritual leadership,p and the powerful way God works through their obedience. One mother’s faith can still change the world, because as we’ve seen throughout history, God’s providence often rides on the prayers of faithful women.
America’s Founding Mothers helped birth a nation. Today’s mothers are helping shape its future.
Photo Credit: ©Aaron Burden/Unsplash
Jane Bjork is the Director of Marketing for Heroic Pictures. An experienced film marketing executive, Bjork has led promotional efforts for multiple faith-based documentaries and theatrical releases, including the June 2025 release, The American Miracle: Our Nation is No Accident.
Originally published May 07, 2025.
