A Perfect Union By Catherine Allgor Essay - 1488 Words

A Perfect Union by Catherine Allgor describes the life of Dolley Madison starting with her first marriage to John Todd whom she only married because her bed-ridden father told her to. Although the marriage to John was a happy marriage it was soon brought to an abrupt end when the yellow fever hit; killing Dolley’s husband and younger son. The newly widowed Dolley took many trips into town and soon she caught the attention of Congressman James Madison who fell so madly in love with her. This attraction led to Dolley turning her back on her Quaker background when she married James Madison and consequently leaded to her removal from â€Å"the meeting†. Dolley and James moved to Washington with all of Congress, she assisted in involving the wives of the Government men— these women were known as â€Å"the ladies of Washington†Ã¢â‚¬â€into the political policies and life. Before James’ presidency, Dolley got ill due to an infection from an unhealed wound on her knee which resulted in her leaving Washington to Philadelphia for surgery. Even from her hospital bed, Dolley managed to connected Philadelphia and Washington together just like the capital does. Soon after arriving back home from the hospital bed, Dolley became depressed especially with the loss of her sister, her sister’s kids and her mom. Later on during the presidential campaign, Dolley took the â€Å"practical task† of winning her husband’s supporters and presenting her family to the public through many parties she hosted. James soon won