Mrs. Roose
AP English Literature and Composition
1 November 2017
The Influence of Angelina Grimke and Lucy Stone Throughout the world, change is constantly happening. Often, it usually takes the voices of many before things can progress onwards. In 19th century America, the still-new country was battling through many issues of its own. A few of these, specifically the Abolitionist and Women’s Rights movements, were a result of the contradiction of the promised rights secured in the Constitution, where “all men are created equal.” While the movement is usually accredited to those more known such as Susan B. Anthony, the lesser known individuals were important since the voices and power of many were contributing forces in …show more content…
This is especially evident for women, as they would face many stigmas. During this time, it was “considered shameful for a woman to publicly address an audience that included men” (“The Anti-Slavery and Woman Rights Movements”). Grimke and Stone, who often wrote segments for newspapers or gave speeches, were considered unlady-like or “masculine” for their involvement in the politics of these movements.Even males who were abolitionists themselves excluded women from participation (Loveday). When the American Anti-Slavery Society was organized in 1833, women were denied membership (“The Anti-Slavery and Woman Rights Movements”). Not only was it difficult to have a voice, but also violence and ostracization were threats those who wanted to participate in the affairs that mattered to them. In addition, keeping calm and having strength were challenges. Despite the difficult and dangerous conditions involved, Stone and Grimke among others, continued in the pursuit towards …show more content…
When the thirteenth amendment was ratified in 1865, it granted citizenship to African-Americans, but in its second section, did not recognize women in its text, “when the right to vote...is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such state,” specifically using the phrase “male citizens” twice (“Bitter Days for the Women’s Movement”). Soon after, the women’s movement faced a split partly due to the adoption of the fifteenth amendment, which further clarified the exclusion of women’s suffrage. This split mostly happened because many of the women’s rights leaders were also part of the abolitionist movement, and those who supported slave rights felt that “their campaign to enfranchise male ex-slaves might be hindered by the additional demands of the female suffragists” (Loveday). Despite the defeat from the new amendments, organized efforts for equality still continued in the midst of