Just Do It List 3 things that you see in the image. What do you think the text above the picture means? What is the significance of the woman’s kneeling position? Why do you think the artist created this image?
Examining the Ties Between Abolitionism and the Women’s Rights Movement Lessons plans developed for the Digital History Reader
Guiding Question How did women’s involvement in abolitionism influence the struggle for women’s rights?
Women’s Role in Society Belief in separate, very distinct, characteristics between men and women Belief in separate, very distinct, characteristics between men and women Certain behavior expectations for each gender Certain behavior expectations for each gender Woman: religiously pious, morally pure, physically delicate, highly emotional and intuitive, submissive to her husband, and above all else devoted to the domestic pursuits of housekeeping and child-rearing Woman: religiously pious, morally pure, physically delicate, highly emotional and intuitive, submissive to her husband, and above all else devoted to the domestic pursuits of housekeeping and child-rearing Man: strong, coarse, reserved not emotional, intellectual, rational, and skilled and enterprising enough to make a living for himself and his family in the emerging areas of commerce and trade Man: strong, coarse, reserved not emotional, intellectual, rational, and skilled and enterprising enough to make a living for himself and his family in the emerging areas of commerce and trade
Two Spheres Private Sphere Exists in the home Exists in the home Women dominated in this sphere, they had the power and influence Women dominated in this sphere, they had the power and influence Public Sphere Exists outside of home Men dominated this sphere Business, industry, politics, and law
Rationale of Two Spheres Private Sphere: Private Sphere: Seen as representative of femininity Seen as representative of femininity Home seen as wellspring of social virtue Home seen as wellspring of social virtue Public Sphere: Public Sphere: Seen as representative of masculinity Seen as representative of masculinity Competitive business world corrupted Competitive business world corrupted As long as each gender stayed in their place society would remain in balance As long as each gender stayed in their place society would remain in balance
Women and the Law Woman civilly dead upon marriage Woman civilly dead upon marriage Could not sue or be sued Could not sue or be sued Make contracts Make contracts Buy or sell property Buy or sell property No control over decisions regarding children or custody No control over decisions regarding children or custody No vote No vote As early as 1776 Abigail Adams asked her husband in Continental Congress to “Remember the Ladies,” yet no concrete advances made As early as 1776 Abigail Adams asked her husband in Continental Congress to “Remember the Ladies,” yet no concrete advances made
Second Great Awakening Northeastern United States transformed by industrialization and urbanization and many social ills popped up Northeastern United States transformed by industrialization and urbanization and many social ills popped up Turned to religion to rectify them Turned to religion to rectify them Distributed Bibles, provided aid to poor, campaigns against prostitution, and attempted to rid of the influence of alcohol and drinking Distributed Bibles, provided aid to poor, campaigns against prostitution, and attempted to rid of the influence of alcohol and drinking Women seen as more pious so emerged as leaders of the movement Women seen as more pious so emerged as leaders of the movement Giving them a voice Giving them a voice
Abolitionism 1830s some religious activists added slavery as a sin to eradicate 1830s some religious activists added slavery as a sin to eradicate William Lloyd Garrison William Lloyd Garrison The Liberator : Anti-slavery weekly The Liberator : Anti-slavery weekly Published handbills, newspapers, booklets, and held meetings and speaking events Published handbills, newspapers, booklets, and held meetings and speaking events Women became very involved in the abolitionist movement Women became very involved in the abolitionist movement
Instructions With a partner you are going to investigate 4 pieces of evidence in order to aid you in your quest to answer the day’s guiding question. We are going to determine how abolitionism and the women’s movement are linked. With a partner you are going to investigate 4 pieces of evidence in order to aid you in your quest to answer the day’s guiding question. We are going to determine how abolitionism and the women’s movement are linked. The pieces of evidence are divided into 2 categories (Political Action and Political Consciousness) and you need to pick 2 from each category to examine. While examining them you need to answer the accompanying guiding questions. The pieces of evidence are divided into 2 categories (Political Action and Political Consciousness) and you need to pick 2 from each category to examine. While examining them you need to answer the accompanying guiding questions. The evidence can be found at the following address: ce.html The evidence can be found at the following address: ce.html ce.html ce.html Pick from the following evidence: Pick from the following evidence: Political Action: 1, 3, 4, 5 Political Action: 1, 3, 4, 5 Political Consciousness: 11, 13, 15, 16 Political Consciousness: 11, 13, 15, 16
Wrapping Up… Think of the frantic mother, Lamenting for her child, Till falling lashes smother Her cries of anguish wild! Shall we behold, unheeding, Life’s holiest feelings crushed? When woman’s heart is bleeding, Shall woman’s voice be hushed? Read the following poem. What emotion is conveyed in the poem? What is the message of the poem? How does this relate to women fighting for abolitionism? How does this relate to the woman in the public and private sphere?