Margaret Bayard Smith’s 1809 Journey to Monticello and Montpelier: The Politics of Performance in the Early Republic

Margaret Bayard Smith’s 1809 travel account of Monticello and Montpelier is revealed to be a 'domestic performance'—a strategic use of feminine language to evaluate Jefferson’s political legacy and reassure the public during a transitional period in U.S. politics. This analysis, rooted in Cynthia A. Kierner’s framework, uncovers subtle political meanings within Smith’s narrative, demonstrating that women in early Washington employed domesticity as a tool for political influence long before the 'Cult of True Womanhood' emerged. The study highlights how Smith contrasted Jefferson’s era with Dolley Madison’s rise, signaling stability in government while challenging traditional historical timelines.

Allgor, C. (2012). Margaret Bayard Smith’s 1809 Journey to Monticello and Montpelier: The Politics of Performance in the Early Republic. Early American Studies: An Interdisciplinary Journal, 10(1), 30–68. https://doi.org/10.1353/eam.2012.0004