Sarah and Angelina Grimké

1974 Words4 Pages

Up until and during the mid -1800’s, women were stereotyped and not given the same rights that men had. Women were not allowed to vote, speak publically, stand for office and had no influence in public affairs. They received poorer education than men did and there was not one church, except for the Quakers, that allowed women to have a say in church affairs. Women also did not have any legal rights and were not permitted to own property. Overall, people believed that a woman only belonged in the home and that the only rule she may ever obtain was over her children. However, during the pre- Civil war era, woman began to stand up for what they believed in and to change the way that people viewed society (Lerner, 1971). Two of the most famous pioneers in the women’s rights movement, as well as abolition, were two sisters from South Carolina: Sarah and Angelina Grimké. The sisters were thirteen years apart; Sarah was the eldest. Sarah was born in 1792 and Angelina was born in 1805. They were born to John Fauchereau Grimké, who was a colonel in the Revolutionary War and a judge of the Supreme Court. He married Mary Smith, and the couple had fourteen children. The Grimké family was extremely wealthy. They enjoyed many luxuries, owned hundreds of slaves and were very influential on society (Birney, 1970). Sarah was the sixth child. Even at a young age she showed great independence and focused many of her efforts on justice. She was very intellectual and because of this, her father paid particular attention to her over the other children. He is said to have frequently declared “if she had been of the other sex she would have made the greatest jurist in the land” (Birney, 1970, p 8). Sarah was also very personable, empathetic and car... ... middle of paper ... ... it was burned down in 1867.In 1868 the Welds and Sarah served as officers of the Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association. Also ,in 1870 Sarah and Angelina led a group of women in an attempt to cast ballots in a local election (VanBurkleo, 2000). Overall, Angelina and Sarah Grimké’s contribution to the Abolition and women’s rights movements were pivotal to our country’s toleration today. Although coming from a family where they would never have to encounter any issues due to their social status ; Angelina and Sarah devoted their lives to people that were less fortunate than they were. They also, paved the way for women to be equal to men, to have a voice, and to be heard. The sisters risked their lives and reputations through their dedication and courage to promote what they believed what right and to ensure a future where all people were treated fairly.

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