The Grimke Sisters By Dashay Williams

Who Are You?? Sarah and Angelina Grimke were speakers that spoke out on slavery and women rights

Sarah Grimke Sarah Moore Grimke was born on November 26, 1792. Born and raised in Charleston, South Carolina Out of 14 children she was the 6th child, but 2nd daughter. She was an abolitionist and author. She was also a Quaker.

Angelina Emily Grimke-Weld) Born February 20, 1805. Was also born and raised in Charleston, South Carolina. She was the last child.

Parents Their parents were Mary Smith Grimke and John Faucheraud Grimke. They were wealthy family that owned slaves. There father was Continental Army captain during the revolutionary war and served in the state House of Representatives and was the states chief justice.

Childhood Sarah and Angelina both opposed slavery at a young age. When Angelina turned thirteen, Sarah moved to Philadelphia then to New Jersey for a while to take care of her sickly father. Their father later died, Sarah moved back to Philadelphia and became a Quaker. Angelina later decided that she wanted to become a Quaker as well to convince the southerners to disagree with slavery.

Becoming Abolitionist Angelina moved to Philadelphia and joined the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society August of 1835 Angelina wrote to William Lloyd Garrison (editor of the abolitionist newspaper The Liberator) discussing her thoughts of slavery. He printed her letter in the newspaper and the letter spread immediately. She became famous.

Becoming an Abolitionist The Quakers in Philadelphia didn’t accept Angelina’s anti- slavery involvement. Sarah was a part of the “Free Produce movement”. Boycotts any product made with slave labor The Quakers in Philadelphia didn’t accept her involvement either. The sisters left Philadelphia, And moved to Providence Rhode Island.

Their Writings Angelina published a pamphlet called “Appeal to the Women of the South” which discussed her argument about how women can end and should end slavery through their influence. “I know you do not make the laws, but I also know that you are the wives and mothers, the sisters and daughters of those who do.”

Their Writings Sarah wrote the essay “ An Epistle to the Clergy of the Southern States” which used biblical arguments used by the clergy to justify slavery. She also created a pamphlet called “ An Address to Free Colored Americans”. And she wrote “Letters on the Equality of Sexes” In South Carolina Both of there booklets were burned.

Marriage Angelina married Theodore Weld, who was an abolitionist, in 1838 They moved to New Jersey and had 3 kids Angelina’s health began to go downhill

Women Rights and Anti-Slavery The sisters published “American Slavery As It Is: Testimony from a Thousand Witnesses”. Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe The sisters and Theodore moved to Boston and then joined in with the Women’s Rights Movement after the Civil War took place. The three of them became officers of the Women Suffrage Association.

Quotes I appeal to you, my friends, as mothers: are willing to enslave your children? You stare back with horror and indignation at such questions. But why, if slavery is not wrong to those upon whom it is imposed ~Angelina Grimke Only let the North Exert as much moral influence over the South, as the South was exerted demoralizing influence over the North, and slavery would die amid the flame of Christian remonstrance, and faithful rebuke, and holy indignation. ~Angelina Grimke

Quiz Where were the sisters from? What was the name of the pamphlet Angelina wrote? To whom did Angelina write her letter to? What program was Sarah in? What were the sisters fighting for?

Sources http://womenshistory.about.com http://www.historyswomen.com/socialreformer/grim ke2.html/od/racialjustice/a/Angelina-Grimke.htm http://www.wwhp.org/Resources/Slavery/grimkesister s.html http://www.pbs.org/godinamerica/people/angelina- grimke.html