Comments on: Women’s Rights Emerges within the Antislavery Movement (I)

By: Brian Knaak

Brian Knaak — Thu, 03 May 2007 10:24:58 +0000

It should first be understood that it was extremely taboo for women to speak in public. In speaking out Angelina Grimke’ was asserting her right as a women to speak out in response immortality of slavery. Due to the Grimke sisters past,where they witnessed the great slave persecution, they were able to impart firsthand knowledge of the atrocities of the slave trade. These atrocities included the break-up of families and severe beatings.

It should also be understood that the Grimke’ sisters were able to assert this right primarily on the basis of religion. (This can also be seen in the women’s petitions concerning Indian removal.) In fact it could be argued that religion was their primary appeal. In one of her many speeches Angelina asked the audience to, “Cast out first the spirit of slavery from your hearts. The great men of this country have become worldly wise, and therefor God, in his wisdom, employs them not to carry on his plans of reformation ans salvation. Instead he has chosen the weak to overcome the mighty.” The religious undertones are quite obvious.

Angelina took her biblical interpretations one step further in arguing for women’s equality. Because all were created equal in the eyes of God, she argued that women should be considered as equals. On behalf of women everywhere, and human rights in general, Angelina stated, “I affirm that women never was given to man. She was created, like him, in the image of God, and crowned with glory and honor, created only a little lower than the angels,-nt, as is too generally presumed, a little lower than man.”

In conclusion, it is apparent that the Grimke’ sisiter unique status, coupled with their religious convictions, were able to make a strong anti-slavery arguement. Furthermore they used thise biblical interpretations to show that “all were created equal” in the eyes of God.

By: Thoams

Thoams — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 22:04:10 +0000

Many abolitionists faced the same problem, dealing with mob that apposed their point of view. Proslavery and racist Americans were the abolitionists biggest optical to maneuver around. But the women of the abolitionist movement were at a greater disadvantage; the women of the movement has one more optical to jump over; their sex. Although there were a number of women speaking against slavery the Grimke sisters has the most vigor and the sisters knew the harsh reality of slavery first hand, coming from an elite southern family. The Grimkes and other antislavery women set out to change the Untied State with their voices. The women’s voices fell on dead ears; ears that for the most part did not see women as equal. The antislavery women notice that they themselves were slaves of a society that only used them. The women’s movement sparked from here; when women realized they had to have the same rights as men to be heard by them.

By: Jared

Jared — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 15:33:41 +0000

“Behind every good man is a strong woman.”; this statement is quoted often because of the fact that women are the heart of mankind, without women America forgets itself; this is shown through the fact that abolitionism was the base of the women’s movement.

By: Tina H.

Tina H. — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 17:05:31 +0000

The womens rights movement was a combination of emotions and goals. It started out with slavery and the want of it to end by numerous people. Many women were forming together, the AASS and other such groups, trying to get their voices heard. The only voices that were being heard were the males who ran the houses. Public speaking in front of crowds, that consisted of both white and blacks and men and women, was being done by women, even black women. By enforcing their voices for others to hear they realized their voices weren’t being heard because they were oppressed themselves. Eventually, the anti-slavery movement went to the women’s rights movement at the same time.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 03:06:02 +0000

The Grimske sisters after living in a house of slaves and seeing the abuse of slaves turned to religion and moved to the North. They believed everyone no matter of color was human and should be treated with respect.They were in support of a petition movement that would be given to the US House of representatives, Skylar sasys “so dirupted the proceddings of US House of Representatives that a “gag rule” was passed”; meaning congressman could not look at the petitions. These petitions and their religion along with what Amanda commented on was part of the powerful Anti-slavery movement leading to the Womens Rights Movement.

By: Amanda Crump

Amanda Crump — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 01:07:35 +0000

The Garrisonians and the sisters argued that “slavery was a sin because it deprived human beings of the freedom they needed to choose their own salvation.”(middle of page 13) Everyone was created by God as a free person and it was wrong to deny them their right. They said that the only solution was immediate abolition. Angelina Grimke went as far as telling women (and men) to speak out and if they had to break the law then they should “follow higher laws.”(page 17) As the sisters traveled speaking and petitioning for abolition, their cause began to switch towards women’s rights. By speaking out against slavery, women began to see the similarities in themselves and the slaves. Angelina said, “What then can woman do for the slave, when she herself is under the feet of the man and shamed into silence.”(page 34) They saw the chance to change the lives of the slaves as well as themselves and they didn’t back down from the challenge.