The Contribution of American Women to the Abolitionist...

The Contribution of American Women to the Abolitionist...

The Abolitionist Movement changed the course of the nation. In addition to the eventual emancipation of slaves, it transformed the role of women in American History. During the Abolitionist Movement, it was thought that the duties of women were confined within the home (Boylan 363). While most women of the time agreed with this statement, there were many who did not. This change of attitude started during the Great Awakening (Baker 623). Eliza Wilkinson wrote, "I won't have it thought that because we are the weaker sex as to bodily strength we are capable of nothing more than domestic concerns" (Goldfield, et al. 171). During this time, society was against women leaving the home. Many of the men who were against slavery were also opposed ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...A racially integrated group of women formed the Boston Female Anti–Slavery Society in October of 1833. This was uncommon for the time–period. The society was made up of three different social classes of women, which caused conflict of interest within the society. The different classes were white, upper–class women, white, middle–class women, and elite black women. The upper–class though that the middle–class were restricting the ideas of the society, while the middle–class thought the aggressive techniques of the upper–class women was atrocious (Hansen 46). Upper–class white women used men's tactics like political protest and public action to spread their cause, while middle–class women used church–based techniques, while focusing towards the needs of women and children (Hansen 63).The elite black women were less interested in policy issues and instead advocated programs that would provide direct care to the black community (Hansen 46). Slavery was thought of as a sin by many people, causing many women to leave the church over this disagreement (Petrulionis 389). Many of these women in Boston formed the Anti–Slavery Society, which became one of the nation's biggest and most influential. To wash away the sin of slavery, it was customary for a minister's wife to be the first president of the Boston Anti–Slavery Society; Charlotte Phelps was the first to fill this position (Hansen 47). Her

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