Abolition and Women’s Rights

Call for ending slavery  By 1804 most Northern states outlawed slavery  1807 Congress banned importation of slaves from Africa.  Walker, other free African Americans & some whites spoke out against slavery  Garrison starts newspaper “The Liberator”  Grimke sisters defy public law that says women can’t speak out in public.  J.Q. Adams introduces amendment to end slavery and serves as Amistad defense attorney

Douglas and Truth  Douglas publishes autobiography in 1845 to prove he was a slave  Feared recapture by owner and went on speaking tour of U.K. for 2 years  Sojourner Truth fled slavery & lived with Quakers  Spoke out against slavery in the North

Underground Railroad  Above ground series of escape routes for enslaved people  Goal to escape to the North or Canada  Traveled by night, hid by day  Hiding stations: stables, attics, cellars  Once in North had to compete with whites for job, racism, discrimination

Harriett Tubman  Skull fractured at 13  Led to fainting spells throughout life  Made 19 trips to help enslaved people  Reward of $40,000 for capture  Never lost a passenger  Saved parents  Most famous conductor of Underground Railroad

Women’s Reform Movement  Mott and Stanley were not allowed to speak at Anti-Slavery Conference  “Not a women’s right to speak in public”  Could not: vote, sit on juries, hold public office  Married women could not own property  Had to give any money earned to husband

Seneca Fall Convention  Held7/1848; Addressed women’s rights in U.S.  Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions based on Declaration of Independence  All measures got unanimous approval  Except women’s right to vote (suffrage)

Continued Calls for Women’s Rights Susan B. Anthony: Women must “have a purse of their own” Supported giving married women right to own property and wage

Abolitionist and Women’s Rights  Both Cited Declaration of Independence as inspiration  Both sought more equality and rights  Both used speeches and publications to further their causes  Some participated and led in both movements