Abolitionism and Women’s Rights Movements
History repeats itself. Throughout history people have fought for equality, and many are still fighting today for opportunities of education, religion or the right to vote. Once a fight is won, people move to the next thing with more passion and rage than before. Abolitionist movements became increasingly popular in the North in the 1830s, contributing to the struggle between the North and South eventually leading to the Civil War. From this, women began their own fight advocating women’s rights and gaining momentum in the 1840s. Abolitionism sparked the women’s rights movement because of the involvement of female abolitionists, exposing women to success and society to the power of women. From the …show more content…
Frederick Douglass points out that “a discussion of the rights of animals would be regarded with far more complacency...than would be a discussion of the rights of women”. People were thought to be “guilty of evil thoughts, to think that a woman is entitled to equal rights with man” (Douglass). Previous to abolitionism, women did not have a voice. Women believed that they, like the slaves, were in bondage. Members of the AASS (American Anti-Slavery Society) argued that “abolition could only be achieved by persuading Americans—slaveholders and non-slaveholders alike—that human bondage was against God’s law” (Hewitt). Women used this as a way to convince people that abolitionists and women’s rights activists were fighting for the same thing (Hewitt). As progressively more female abolitionists became women’s rights activists, America began to realize the urgency women felt to break the traditions of past generations of their powerless …show more content…
In 1840, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott were refused seats at the World Anti-Slavery Convention in London. As a result, they held their own convention on women’s rights. This inspired many women to stand up and speak out about the equality of women and equal participation in abolitionist movements or in any organization. (National Women’s History Museum). Women, although pushed down, were able to gain momentum from anti-slavery campaigns to start their own movements advocating women’s rights. Douglass wrote about how he could feel the power sitting in one of the very first women’s rights conferences at Seneca Falls on July 28, 1848: “their whole proceedings were characterized by marked ability and dignity”. Grievances were read, including the Declaration of Sentiments, which were “the basis of a grand movement for attaining the civil, social, political, and religious rights of women” (Douglass). From what women learned in abolitionism conferences they used in their own fight for equal rights. By the time women’s right campaigns really started gaining momentum, many were well trained in the art of political persuasion and speaking about social justices. The women’s rights movement would not have been possible if the seeds were not planted in the minds of female abolitionists when they were in meetings and even when being kicked out of meetings.
History repeats itself. Throughout history people have fought for equality, and many are still fighting today for opportunities of education, religion or the right to vote. Once a fight is won, people move to the next thing with more passion and rage than before. Abolitionist movements became increasingly popular in the North in the 1830s, contributing to the struggle between the North and South eventually leading to the Civil War. From this, women began their own fight advocating women’s rights and gaining momentum in the 1840s. Abolitionism sparked the women’s rights movement because of the involvement of female abolitionists, exposing women to success and society to the power of women. From the …show more content…
Frederick Douglass points out that “a discussion of the rights of animals would be regarded with far more complacency...than would be a discussion of the rights of women”. People were thought to be “guilty of evil thoughts, to think that a woman is entitled to equal rights with man” (Douglass). Previous to abolitionism, women did not have a voice. Women believed that they, like the slaves, were in bondage. Members of the AASS (American Anti-Slavery Society) argued that “abolition could only be achieved by persuading Americans—slaveholders and non-slaveholders alike—that human bondage was against God’s law” (Hewitt). Women used this as a way to convince people that abolitionists and women’s rights activists were fighting for the same thing (Hewitt). As progressively more female abolitionists became women’s rights activists, America began to realize the urgency women felt to break the traditions of past generations of their powerless …show more content…
In 1840, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott were refused seats at the World Anti-Slavery Convention in London. As a result, they held their own convention on women’s rights. This inspired many women to stand up and speak out about the equality of women and equal participation in abolitionist movements or in any organization. (National Women’s History Museum). Women, although pushed down, were able to gain momentum from anti-slavery campaigns to start their own movements advocating women’s rights. Douglass wrote about how he could feel the power sitting in one of the very first women’s rights conferences at Seneca Falls on July 28, 1848: “their whole proceedings were characterized by marked ability and dignity”. Grievances were read, including the Declaration of Sentiments, which were “the basis of a grand movement for attaining the civil, social, political, and religious rights of women” (Douglass). From what women learned in abolitionism conferences they used in their own fight for equal rights. By the time women’s right campaigns really started gaining momentum, many were well trained in the art of political persuasion and speaking about social justices. The women’s rights movement would not have been possible if the seeds were not planted in the minds of female abolitionists when they were in meetings and even when being kicked out of meetings.