As a woman, her role in the new republic was expected to be exclusively domestic. Margaret Smith used this expectation to her advantage by quickly immersing herself in Washington life: befriending local families and politicians, and strengthening her relationships with previous acquaintances.
As a woman, her role in the new republic was expected to be limited to domestic pursuits. Margaret Smith exploited this expectation to her benefit by quickly establishing connections with influential figures in Washington: building friendships with local families and politicians, and nurturing existing relationships.