Womens Right Movement of 19th Century - Essay Example

Women’s Right Movement of 19th century Introduction Women’s movement refers to woman suffrage, which was the right of womento take part in voting and stand for any electoral office. This saw some women gaining limited voting rights in Western US states, Finland and Sweden. Both national and international organizations formed a coordinated effort towards acquisition of the voting rights, particularly the International Woman Suffrage Alliance in 1904 that advocated for equality in civil rights among women. The movement allowed the women both the legitimized women participation in every area of the society as well as right to enfranchisement in elections. The history to acquisition of rights to vote in America intertwines with the American women acquiring other rights as well. The major pioneers of American enfranchisement include Lucretia Mott, Susan B. Anthony and Chapman Catt among others. The women considered the suffrage as their number one priority since the moment they are granted the right to vote, and then other rights would have followed (Cappiello 56). History Background to Women Rights Movement In the United States, women suffrage was attained gradually at both state and local levels during the 19th century, and culminated from the passage on the constitution that stated that right to vote by citizens in United States was not to be denied by the state on basis of sex. On June 1848, liberty party comprised of entirely men. In 1850s, Women Rights Convention under leadership of Lucy stone organized suffrage petition campaigns for women in various states. Stone was the first person to make appeals for women suffrage before law makers. In 1853, she addressed Massachusetts Constitutional Convention. However, agitation was suspended during Civil War but in 1865, everything resumed as the National Women Rights committee petitioned to the congress to amend the constitution so as to prohibit states from the move towards disfranchising the citizens on basis of sex. This triggered a disagreement among the movement leaders on whether to support the ratification of 15th amendment that gave a vote to black men and ignored black women. This enhanced formation of rival organizations that campaigned for amendment that gave the women the right to vote at both local and national levels. However, the two groups led by Lucy Stone and Susan Anthony merged to form the American Women Suffrage Association in 1889. The movement campaigned for reforms for the progressive era (Cappiello 57). How Abolition Activism Contributed to Formation of Women’s Right Movement Women who took part in early abolitionist movement started demanding for equality in rights, both in their experiences and general life. This was characterized by campaigns for girl child education, political rights and employment. During the period, there was growth of many progressive movements and divisions on questions of identity, particularly the role of women in movements. Based on the abolitions, most incremental groups preferred campaigning against the prevailing slavery, but often, this was derailed in ending the abolition. During this period, most supporters of this strategy advocated the colonization of slaves that were freed. This was believed to witness the sending of emancipated people to African colonies such as Liberia. Most of the advocates of colonization and incremental abolition held the traditional views on role of women (Sklar and James 68). They claimed that women were supposed to play a major role the society and in abolitionist movement. This triggered a heated debate between Angelina Grimke and Catherine Beecher who were prominent women activists. Beecher believed that women were supposed to remain subordinate, as outlined by divine law, to Abolitionism and Slavery. On the other hand, Grimke asserted that women were supposed to be granted the right to engage and participate in all political issues and events that affected their lives. The contribution of women in suffrage movement was sometimes problematic for most emancipated women in slavery and free women actively took part in abolitionist movement. However, as the women movement expanded, there were resistance, especially from the middle class, white leadership and educated women in their move towards including the black women. For instance, the report on Sojourner Truth’s speech in Akron Ohio was never received well. Some delegates welcomed the message and the speaker while others became hostile and were unwilling to listen to the Black speaker (Faulkner 45). Frances Wright introduced Mary Wollstonecraft’s tradition in United States. This was motivated by her visits to the State from 1818. During this time, she wrote about the American women. Such writings emphasized on the need for accessing higher education with argument that educated women earn more respect from men that the uneducated women. In late 1820s, the public speaking by Wright as she toured the American cities in the northern section encouraged the changes in popular belief about women that they were never supposed to talk in public. However, her precedent was not followed up to 1837 when Sarah and Angelina gave their public speeches in Massachusetts. Besides the familiarity with the female physiology, the morel reformers advocated for the elimination of lacing in the female dress where mothers were counseled to provide their families with healthy die, wholesome activities and fresh air (Robertson 39). Most American joined the women and antislavery rights in 1830s. Most of them came from countryside to towns in the north, and they were deeply religious and advocated for reform-oriented families. Most people believed that the return of freed slaves to Africa would mark the solution for the persistent American slavery. However, some opponents in 1830s rejected colonization by terming it as racist, impractical and unjust. At this point, abolitionist appeared to be right as it would have been impractical to settle all the slaves. The abolitionists called for immediate emancipation to end the racial prejudice. However, in some way, abolitionists were source of ridicule, violence and criticism. This led to emergence of anti-black and anti-abolitionist riots in most of the American cities. The groups comprised of groups of middle-class citizens who considered abolitionism to threaten their businesses and communities (Faulkner 46). By 1830s, becoming an abolitionist required bravely as most of them had to face the physical danger from mobs as well as endure disapproval by friends and families. Most of them had considered slavery as an evil beyond justification. As a result, they probably had taken the action through the support of powerful religious commitment that impelled even other people to support causes for temperance, non-violence and Christian missions. Despite most of them being committed to freedom for African-Americans, most of the abolitionist could not free themselves completely from racial prejudice that was so prevalent in American society (Kachun 23). Between 1830s and 1840s, the anti-slavery movements expanded and the cause for colonization lacked supporters. This saw abolitionism being linked to other reformist movements. As a public opinion, the northern section became intolerant to slavery while the anti-abolitionism in the southern side decreased significantly. The move towards antislavery became more popular and safer, winning the support of many people that were originally against the claims. However, the unity of early movement became shattered as there erupted disagreements on values and strategy. This saw the splitting of the antislavery in 1840 into two groups (Breines 1670). The radical abolitionists led by William Lloyd insisted on antislavery being moral and religious move, and they held numerous crusades to arouse the nation’s conscience. They considered political action as a threat to the moral purity where they favored the rights of women by emphasizing that they should hold significant roles in the antislavery movement. The other antislavery group advocated for moderate political abolitionism as they sought for immediate emancipation but they believed that the recognition of the political system and election of antislavery leaders was the most efficient way towards realization of antislavery. The group held more traditional beliefs regarding the role of women in politics. They believed that women were not the best in the fight towards antislavery (Kachun 24). In 1840, the disagreement between the two groups reached the peak after most people in the convention supported nomination of Abigail Kelley who was a woman abolitionist to serve in the business committee of the convention. This saw some conservative abolitionist walking out and withdrew from the antislavery society. This widened the gap between the idealism of the radicals in compromising and the interest of the moderates in attaining achievable results and practical politics. This was centrally based on ‘woman’ starting as an abolitionist and becoming active in the fight for women rights (Roberts 535). This marked the beginning of the involvement of women in antislavery movement. Such typical patterns of 19th century saw the women participating as organizers and formed separate antislavery society comprising of only women. By 1830s, most women societies were in existence. The local societies were similar to those by many voluntary women organizations in the northern communities. The women could meet, raise funds and pray for the national activities and state at large. Most women became active in supporting the antislavery movements. Most of them were daughters and wives of professional merchants, successful farmers and men who had limited time to spare. Women from hard-pressed families had no time to attend the meetings or for collecting signatures for petition (McMillen 90). Most active female abolitionist moved beyond their local societies and formed delegates that advocated for antislavery among the American women. During this time, they could issue resolutions and publications, as well as collect signatures on the antislavery petition. This is because women were denied the right to vote and the petitioning congress was the only solution in their political action. Most active women abolitionists acted as principal energizers and organizers of the statewide and local action. Most of them were usual women who spoke publicly cause and travelled in countryside mobilizing for the anti-slavery society. During this time, they spoke on condition of a slave and the rights of a woman. Prominent women like Angelina and Sarah continued with giving messages regarding the rights of women as well as the evils of slavery. In the process, they established a foundation for the Woman’s Right movement that issued its manifesto on declaration of rights and sentiments of women in 1848 in order to secure equality for the women. They believed that women must be accorded equal rights (McMillen 91). Conclusion The abolitionist movement and women’s right movement comprised of complicated histories but at the end, they were full of triumph. The goals of the abolitionists were realized through cataclysmic civil war violence. Most of the issues that emerged saw the emergence of women’s right movement. Currently America, though racially unequal, the country has been struggling towards struggle for justice and equality. Status of women has undergone tremendous changes, and this has seen emergence of powerful feminist movement amid much criticism and opposition. There has been change of attitude coupled with some forces of economic changes that have seen the transformation of families despite most women being actively involved in their careers. However, despite the questions regarding the role of women in the society, this is taking a new perspective with increased appreciation for women in the societies. Works Cited Breines, Wini. "Book Reviews: Going South: Jewish Women in the Civil Rights Movement; Deep in Our Hearts: Nine White Women in the Freedom Movement." Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society 30.2 (2005): 1670-000. Print. Cappiello, Dianne Wheaton. "Where the Spirit of the Lord Is, There Is Freedom" Black Spirituality and the Rise of the Antislavery Movement, 1740-1841. New York: Wiley, 2011. Print. Faulkner, Carol. Lucretia Motts Heresy: Abolition and Womens Rights in Nineteenth-century America. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania, 2011. Print. Kachun, Mitch. "‘Our Platform Is as Broad as Humanity’: Transatlantic Freedom Movements and the Idea of Progress in Nineteenth-Century African American Thought and Activism." Slavery & Abolition 24.3 (2003): 1-23. Print. McMillen, Sally. Seneca Falls and the Origins of the Womens Rights Movement. New York: Oxford UP, 2008. Print. Roberts, Dorothy E. "Women of Color and the Reproductive Rights Movement (review)." Journal of the History of Sexuality 13.4 (2004): 535-39. Print. Robertson, Stacey M. Hearts Beating for Liberty: Women Abolitionists in the Old Northwest. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina, 2010. Print. Sklar, Kathryn, and James Brewer. Womens Rights and Transatlantic Antislavery in the Era of Emancipation. New Haven: Yale UP, 2007. Print. Read More