Life Before Feminism Oppression In Its Ugliest Form

Enslavement of Africans  Black Africans were captured by slave hunters, put on ships, and “sold” to owners in faraway countries  This was a worldwide practice – finally outlawed in British colonies including Canada in 1833  Over the 350 years of slave trade, millions of Africans became involuntary immigrants to the New World

Black History Canada 

Anti-Slavery Movement  The Quaker religious sect was the first of many groups to publicly oppose slavery in the United States  Specific concerns: The “trade” of human beings as slaves The perpetual bondage of captives The practice of separating enslaved family members by sale to different owners

Abolitionist movement  Throughout the 19 th century the movement gained strength  Received coverage in newspapers  Black and white activists worked together on the common cause  However, by the 1840s, different philosophies and methods sent them in separate directions

Anti-Slavery Conventions  The earliest convention was held in Philadelphia in 1830  White and black women became more active throughout the 1830s as lecturers, petitioners, and meeting organizers  At the London convention of 1840, female abolitionists were incensed that their male counterparts would not permit them to speak publicly

Seneca Falls Declaration  Many cite the Seneca Falls Convention held in Seneca Falls, NY to be the beginning of the women’s movement in America  The idea arose at the 1840 Anti-Slavery convention in London, where female delegates were required to sit behind partitions, separate from the male delegates  This was just oppression in another form

The Declaration of Sentiments  The full text is in your handout  300 participants attended the two-day convention  Contained several resolutions including: A man should not withhold a woman’s rights, take her property, or refuse to allow her to vote  Most resolutions passed unanimously

Relationship between the Abolitionist and Women’s Movements  Many leaders of one movement were also leaders of the other  However, the two movements were quite different: The abolitionists were fighting a tradition of tyranny against the African-American The women’s rights activists were fighting a tradition of protection (from such things as finances, politics, and paid voting)

TASK  With a partner, discuss the questions posed by the teacher  Be prepared to share your ideas with another pair  In your group of four, appoint a recorder to capture your key ideas  The recorder will share your group’s answers with the whole class later in the period

For discussion:  If you had to explain today’s class to someone who had been absent, what would you say?  List three (3) ideas or facts from today’s class that you would like to learn more about, and why

Home Activity: Journal entry – Choose one of the following topics:  Describe a time in your life when you felt powerless and connect it to some element from today’s lesson  Choose a specific example (e.g., single, white female or young black male) and describe what life must have been like that person in the mid-1800s  Write on the topic of “oppression”