During the 19th century, the abolitionist movement was developing in the United States, which set itself the goal of putting an end to slavery. In the 1930s, following the creation of The Liberator newspaper and the organization of Anti-Slavery Society, the movement began to get supporters actively. Some women also became activists and, aside from their contribution to abolitionism, laid the foundation for the women’s rights movement.
Like all activists, women joined the abolitionist movement motivated by their views on slavery and human rights. They saw slavery “as a moral evil that could not be justified” (Larkin). In 1838, Angelina Grimke, in her speech at Pennsylvania Hall, claimed that it was impossible to describe the horrors of slavery and that being a slave, a person could not be happy. Angelina and her sister Sarah were one of the key women that played a significant role in the abolitionist movement. For many years during their childhood, growing in a “family of wealthy slave-holding aristocrats,” they were witnessing the life of slaves (“Angelina & Sarah”). That experience gave them a deep understanding of slavery evils and helped to start speaking about that issue on the public.
Angelina and Sarah impressed both men and women, with their speeches encouraging people to support the movement and become less tolerant of slavery. They began with private speeches for women as it was the only format that was appropriate for a decent woman of that time. Nevertheless, later they went against the prohibition for women to speak in public and started addressing both men and women in public meetings (“Angelina & Sarah”). However, speeches were not the only way women fought against slavery. In 1837, the Anti-Slavery Convention of American Women in New York was held; activists created resolutions and collected signatures for anti-slavery petitions (Larkin). For women, these were the only possible active political actions since they could not vote, and “petitioning Congress was their only means” (Larkin). Thus, women took an active part in the fight against slavery, making a significant contribution to the movement.
Trying to end slavery, activists realized the need to fight for women’s rights. Women were experiencing attacks by the society that considered that active political actions and public speeches were inappropriate behavior. One of the most serious concerns was the lack of voting rights. Angelina Grimke, during her anti-slavery speech at Pennsylvania Hall, also paid the audience’s attention to this and some other issues. She claimed that men deny women’s “right to petition and to remonstrate against abuses” of their sex and their kind (“Angelina Grimké”). When understanding the position of women in society, Angelina focused on this problem in her messages seeking social justice (Larkin). This understanding of inequality also made other women start acting. In 1848, activists Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton organized Seneca Falls Convention, the first women’s rights convention in history. The conference put forward resolutions that included, for instance, “equal rights within the church and equal access to jobs” and right to vote (History.com Editors). One may conclude that abolitionism helped to lay the foundation for the women’s rights movement.
Thus, women had a significant role in the abolitionist movement contributing to the fight with the help of public speeches and petitions to Congress. The involvement in abolitionism allowed them to understand the necessity of changes in society and legislation on the issue of women’s rights. They brought to the public discussion problems such as lack of voting rights, inequality in the work sphere, and within the church and were fighting for freedom and social justice.
Works Cited
“Angelina Grimké Weld’s speech at Pennsylvania Hall.” PBS, 2020. Web.
“Angelina & Sarah Grimke Abolitionists.” History’s Women, 2020. Web.
History.com Editors. “Seneca Falls Convention.” History, 2017, Web.
Larkin, Jack. “Historical Background on Antislavery and Women’s Rights 1830-1845.” Teach Us History, Web.