Five First Ladies Who Changed America

From Lady Martha to Ladybird Johnson, the 47 First Ladies have often been extraordinary women who’ve made major contributions through their counsel of presidents and favorite projects. Here we look at five who made extraordinary contributions. Eleanor Roosevelt delivered 348 press conference and was later a United Nations delegate while also flying with her friend Amelia Earhart. Abigail Adams wasn’t formally educated, but was her husband John’s greatest advisor in all matters while hanging wash in the East Room of the White House. Lou Hoover was a geologist who spoke six languages and was president of the Girl Scouts. Lady Bird Johnson created the highway beautification act and advocating head start. Martha Washington set the standard by taking the title Lady Martha while handling the couple's personal affairs so George could focus on the war and presidency.

We’ll discuss my personal top five list of First Ladies and how each made America a better place. I enjoy using photos or paintings to personalize each First Lady during my lecture.

Students can ask questions throughout class or even beforehand to ensure their learning goals are met. And, we'll review near the end to ensure everyone understands key points.