Golda Mabovitch was born on May 3, 1898 in Kiev, Russia. When Golda was seven years old, her father left Russia in search of better opprotunties, and settled in Milkwaukee, Wisconsin. A year later, he was follwed by his wife, and his three daughters, including Golda. Life was difficult for poor immigrant families, and Golda had to work every morning in her mother's grocery store, which made her late for school almost every day. Still, Golda proved to be an excellent student. When Golda graduated from her middle school as valedictorian of her class, Golda's mother wanted her to give up her ideas about going on to high school, and get married and work in the store, instead. But Golda was determined to continue her education. In 1912, Golda ran away from home to live with her sister, and go to school.

Various groups of people visited Golda's sister's home, including Socialists, Zionists, and anarchists. These people greatly aroused the political interests of Golda, who became a Zionist -- someone who believes in the right to a Jewish homeland. She joined the Labor Zionist Party, and married Morris Meyerson in 1917. The couple settled in Palestine, and Golda became secretary of the Women's Labor Council of Histradut in 1928. As a public figure, Golda was responsible for raising money internationally for defense, food, and housing to help found the state of Israel. On May 14, 1948, Golda was one of the twenty-five signers of Israel's Proclamation of Independence. Shortly thereafter, seven Arab countries declared war on the new state, but Israel emerged victorious.

In 1956, Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion named Golda minister of labor and suggested that all members of his cabinet use their Hebrew names. From that day forward, Golda Meyerson became known as Golda Meir, which means " to illuminate. " As Israel's first minister of labor, Meir orchestrated the building of thirty-thousand houses, and two-hundred-thousand low-income apartments. Meir later became secretary general of the Mapai Party, and later of the Israel Labor Party under Prime Minister Levi Eshkol. When Eshkol died in 1969, the party selected Meir to serve as prime minister until the next elections were held. As prime minister, Meir sought the support of the United States to build Israel's defense.

In 1973, Syrian and Egyptian forces launched a surprise attack against Israel on Yom Kippur, the holiest of Jewish holidays. Although Israel proved victorious, Meir was strongly criticized for the country's lack of preparedness for the war. A few months later, Meir turned the country over to Yitzhak Rabin. Even after her resignation as prime minister, Golda continued her political work by rallying support and aid for Israel, and in 1978, died of cancer. President Anwar el - Sadat, her foe in the Yom Kippur war of 1973 praised her as " a first - class political leader." Just four months after her death , representatives from Egypt and and Israel signged a peace agreement ending the thirty years of hostility.