lecture 03/08 grimke cont. and wendell phillips.doc

Lec. 03/08 Grimke's Bible Argument Against slavery (most important points) Grants that servitude existed among the ancient hebrews and is taken for granted in the Bible but the kind of servitude that existed among the ancient hebrews is NOT the kind of slavery that exists in the American South there are 3 major differences a) stealing people to enslave them was forbidden by jewish law b) hebrew servants were not held in perpetual bondage hebrew servants were legally protected against mistreatment by their masters therefore, it is ?blasphemy? to say that the ?god of mercy and truth? ever sanctioned such a system of ?cruelty and wrong? as american slavery Lecture from last class cont. Arguments bible argument against slavery four steps southern women can take to combat slavery had problem because women were excluded from the public sphere read the bible to see what is says about slavery pray on the subject of slavery speak out against slavery- especially to men, who have power to take action in the public area not public platform with public speeches act against slavery (growing sense they will take action in the public sphere) a. free your slaves if you own them (men should do the same thing- most direct action) b. teach your slaves to read and write hopeful that it would lead to slave uprising if you deny knowledge and education, it is easier to keep people in a servant position if you teach your slaves to write, you would be arrested (in the south, because that would weaken system of slavery) essentially must break the law petition legislatures to abolish slavery all this is ?your duty as women an as Christian women.? right of petition widely accepted in 19th century ? was constitutional urged women to SIGN PETITIONS to encourage legislators (males) to abolish slavery moving towards women taking action in the public sphere targeted appeal to christian women of the south defense of abolitionists defends them as not being dangerous all reformers over the course of history had been attacked- even christian prophets had been attacked abolitionists could act in the same spirit as prophets slavery could be emancipated without destroying society- said there was nothing to fear in immediate abolition would not be destroying southern society Impact in south did not achieve her objective southerners so deeply against abolition that no abolition discussion would have been received well when were writing reached her home town in Charlestown, SC, her pamphlet was publicly burned she was forbidden by the police of ever coming home to her mother that was how threaten her home town felt about her work ? she and her sister never returned home and never saw their family again civil correspondence with mother among abolitionists had a very favorable reception ? highly acclaimed by abolitionists ? went through several additions and was published and praised in England only work for southern women by a southern woman ? did not have impact on intended audience she was invited to be trained in NY to be a lecturer/agent for the AASS ? went on to have important contribution as a lecturer Grimke sisters as Abolitionist Agents A. Training as part of ?the 70? first women to become trained as anti slavery agents Angelina married Weld B. New York Speeches after training in Nov 1836, they started giving 'parlor talks' went to the homes of women (in NY) and talk to women in their parlors was inappropriate for women to speak in public at this time got groups of women together so popular that men started to sneak in to see what the sisters had to say so popular that AASS let the sisters give speeches in the public sphere New England Lecture Tour (June 1837-1838) much more explosive than the talks they gave in the parlors was also good for uniting the women's rights movement made two speeches before Mass. Legislature ? first woman to do this speaking activities some speeches were given to crowds of 1000 people everyone trying to hear what the sisters had to say importance for abolitionism they were very good at speaking; praised and thanked god helped convert hundreds of people in Mass for the cause of abolitionism ? spurred growth of AASS chapters helped the abolitionist movement grow importance for women's rights other movements shoot off of original movement was not considered appropriate for women at beginning of 19th century for women to speak to ?promiscuous audiences? (men and women) men kept coming to see them ? scandalous and in June of 1837, Congregational Church in Mass wrote letter about how is was a sin for women to speak to audiences of mixed sexes thought that speaking threatened the female character (would destroy their character) this letter caused the debate of women's rights in 19th century Grimkes and defenders supporting the right to speak in public; conservatives opposed them tried to keep lectures on the subject of abolitionism but became hard for them to ignore the subject of women's rights had to defend their right to speak ? articulated theory about the rights of women in general published works (Sarah Grimke) about women's rights women's rights movement grew out of defending and insisting their right to lecture began to win for women, the right to speak in public about political women maintained speaking tour to win this right women could no longer be excluded simply because they were women Afterword continued to work in abolitionist movement neither of them spoke again after this phase ? major public activity took place in period of 2 years both sisters remained major figures in abolitionist movement and women's rights movements after this time Wendell Phillips The death of Elijah Lovejoy (Nov 7, 1837) abolitionist news-writer in Illinois was killed by an anti abolitionist mob press had been destroyed on 2 occasion ? not first time anti-abolitionists had conflict with him first martyr to abolitionism after death, people in North were no longer willing to suppress abolitionist literature because it would be a threat to their own free speech lots of discourse to condemn the death of Lovejoy and defend free speech Note on Wendell Phillips was an aristocratic bostonian family had been prominent for generations, including american revolution ? brought luster of am. Revolution to abolitionism had been trained as orator ? pathway of political success possibly the greatest orator of this phase very captivating; was also an agitator despite his aristocratic background dedicated to change in American society had a concern of hiding the evils of slavery behind polite language ? in all causes, like women's rights, american indians, opposition to capital punishment, labor reformers, he believed that it was public discourse that would lead to political change