Feminism and the Grimké Sisters By: Ashton Thomas and Brenna Loving

Early Life of the Grimké Sisters Grew up on a plantation in South Carolina Exposed to cruel effects of slavery at a young age Sarah was Angelina’s godmother and they became very close In 1821, Sarah converted to Quakerism and moved to Philadelphia Angelina did the same in 1829 Sarah wanted to be a lawyer when she was young but couldn’t go to law school because she was a woman Angelina spoke out against slavery at her family’s church, but faced opposition and was eventually kicked out of the church

Grimké Sisters’ Timeline 1829 Quakerism conversion and moving up north By 1829, both sisters had left their family’s slave owning plantation, converted to Quakerism, and moved north 1836 Appeal to the Christian Women of the South Angelina published this work to persuade and push southern women against slavery 1838 First woman to speak in front of a state legislature Angelina spoke in front of the Massachusetts legislature for women against slavery 1835 Letter to William Lloyd Garrison Angelina wrote a very passionate letter to Garrison on abolition and it was eventually published in The Liberator 1837 Letters on the Equality of the Sexes Sarah Grimké published her work about the similarities between women and slaves in lack of rights and that God made the sexes equal 1848 First Woman’s Rights Convention The sisters received an invitation from Elizabeth Cady Stanton, but chose to not attend despite their influence

Sarah Grimké’s Letters on the Equality of the Sexes “Woman has been placed by John Quincy Adams, side by side with the slave, whilst he was contending for the right side of petition.” Reoccurring theme that white women and slaves are treated similarly “No one can desire more earnestly than I do, that woman may move exactly in the sphere which her Creator has assigned her; and I believe her having been displaced from that sphere has introduced confusion into the world” God made men and women equal “There are few things which present greater obstacles to the improvement and elevation of woman to her appropriate sphere of usefulness and duty, than the laws which have been enacted to destroy her independence, and crush her individuality; laws which, although they are framed for her government, she has had no voice in establishing, and which rob her of some of her essential rights.”

Angelina Grimké’s Appeal to the Christian Women of the South Urged southern women to act against slavery with the only influence they had “I know you do not make the laws, but I also know that you are the wives and mothers, the sisters and daughters of those who do; and if you really suppose you can do nothing to overthrow slavery, you are greatly mistaken.” Primary cause was for abolition, but resulted in movement for women’s rights Eventually caused Sarah Grimké to write Letters on the Equality of Sexes Able to appeal directly to women and their values “I appeal to you, my friends, as mothers; Are you willing to enslave your children? You start back with horror and indignation at such a question. But why, if slavery is no wrong to those upon whom it is imposed?”

The Grimké Sisters Effect on the Feminist Movement The feminism movement was created due to female abolitionists not being allowed to speak out against slavery This was a huge issue for the Grimké sisters Women’s rights conventions were held to discuss the issues The sisters attend the second women’s rights convention held by Elizabeth Cady Stanton Defined feminism and its emphasis on self-ownership and equality under law Laid the foundation for future feminists by being one of the first to actively speak out

Works Cited "Angelina Grimké Defends Abolitionism." Angelina Grimké Defends Abolitionism | Teach US History. N.p., n.d. Web. "Angelina Grimke." History of American Women. N.p., 02 Apr. 2017. Web. Brinkley, Alan. "Chapter 12." Unfinished Nation. N.p.: Mcgraw-Hill Education, 2013. N. pag. Print. "God In America." PBS. Public Broadcasting Service, n.d. Web. "Grimke Sisters." National Parks Service. U.S. Department of the Interior, n.d. Web. "Sarah Grimké (1792–1873) and Angelina Grimké Weld (1805–1879)." Open Collections Program: Women Working, Sarah Grimké (1792–1873) and Angelina Grimké Weld (1805–1879). N.p., n.d. Web. "Sarah Grimké Argues for Women's Rights." Sarah Grimké Argues for Women's Rights | Teach US History. N.p., n.d. Web. Women in Antebellum America. N.p., n.d. Web.