Traditionally women were limited from political participation and primarily performed the women’s role in the home (Nelson, 2008). However, during and after the war of 1812, the women supported the men emotionally, politically and physically by running the family business and performing other duties typically performed by men. Duties entailed shipping supplies, planting and harvesting crops, and even manufacturing. The social and cultural views of women during the war of 1812 began to shift, in part credited to the political skills of Dolley Madison. Dolley’s political power and involvement changed the minds of American politicians from abandoning the charred remains Washington DC, for “higher ground”, instead the decision was made to rebuild