Sarah and Angelina Grimke Natalie Hassell and Allie Johnson

Sarah and Angelina Grimke were abolitionists of slavery and advocates of women’s rights during a period of time when both subjects were hugely controversial and not vindicated by women. The two sisters were among the first of their gender to step outside the norm of society and publically speak about slavery and women’s rights. They were fearless leaders that changed history and left footprints of inspiration and motivation for others to follow.

Sarah Grimke Angelina Grimke

Childhood Sarah Grimke was born in 1792 and Angelina was born in 1805 Raised by a wealthy judge and slaveholder, John Fauchereaud Grimke, in Charleston, South Carolina John was strict, disciplinary, and forced them to work on the plantations shelling corn and picking cotton. – This began Sarah and Angelina’s sympathy for slaves and the lives they lived – Working with the slaves on the plantations led the sisters to recognize how cruel slavery was and their ideas for abolition grew

Sarah Grimke As a child, Sarah recognized that the South Carolina law forbidding slaves to read was unjust, and she rebelled by secretly teaching her handmaid at night, until her father caught her and was furious. Sarah had hoped to go to law school like her older brother, but her stubborn father refused to allow her to continue with her education. At age 13, she began raising her youngest sister, Angelina, in place of attending school. On a trip to Philadelphia with her sick father, Sarah was introduced to the Society of Friends, or Quakers, whom helped John Grimke during his illness. – Shortly after his death, Sarah was inspired to convert to Quakerism and move to Philadelphia in 1821

Angelina Grimke Angelina witnessed the suffering of slaves growing up that distorted her mind – A young slave boy who walked with difficulty due to the whip-mark scars on his back and legs – Family slaves who were mistreated and abused – Screams of pain from the nearby workhouse, where slaves were dragged on a treadmill, suspended by their arms Angelina despised her family’s acceptance of slavery and joined Sarah in Philadelphia in 1829 after vowing to live at home no longer

Slavery During the 1830s, the abolition of slavery was a widely controversial topic, greatly supported in the North, but opposed against in the South Abolitionism was the movement to end the slave trade and emancipate slaves which lasted from the eighteenth century to the end of the Civil War. The Grimke sisters’ interest in ending slavery began as early as their childhood growing up on a plantation with slave workers – Their conversion to Quakerism only strengthened their desire to support the movement and become abolitionists themselves

Activity in Abolition Angelina Grimke began attending antislavery meetings In the aftermath of the violent riots against abolitionists and African Americans in New York and Philadelphia, she wrote a letter in response to William Lloyd Garrison’s appeal to citizens in Boston to stop mob violence

“This is a cause worth dying for…” - Angelina Grimke

Angelina wrote in her letter about the need to end slavery despite the danger posed at active abolitionists William Lloyd Garrison published Angelina’s letter to him in The Liberator without her permission. Although it caused much embarrassment for Angelina, it began her career as a public speaker

Women’s Rights Advocacy In 1836, Angelina wrote Appeal to the Christian Woman of the Southern States which spoke directly to women to embrace the antislavery cause and includes biblical references to persuade them to change their beliefs. The outcry the ensued involved Catharine Beecher, a prominent female educator, retaliating to Angelina’s work and declared it unnecessary for women to speak about abolitionism. Angelina was angry and disappointed. She published The Letter to Catharine Beecher, which highlighted the right and responsibility of women to participate in society.

Her sister’s devotion to the abolition of slavery and endorsement of women’s rights, prompted Sarah to write Letters on the Equality of the Sexes. By the late 1830s, Angelina and Sarah Grimke were not only known as prominent abolitionists, but also as women’s rights advocates.

Public Speaking The Grimke sisters were the first women to serve as agents for the American antislavery society in They toured the east coast publically speaking to a mixed gender crowd about political issues regarding slavery. – The speeches suggested practical ways for people in the North could help change regulation of slavery. – They believed that racial prejudice was a factor that supported the slave system and encouraged people to rid their lives and communities of racism. Angelina declared that Black Americans were entitled to “every privilege, social, civil and religious” that white Americans enjoyed.

As public women, they themselves caused controversy. The Congregational General Association issued a “Pastoral letter” denouncing the women who crossed the boundaries of their “proper sphere.” This did not stop large crowds from gathering to hear the Grimke sisters’ speeches. Angelina and Sarah responded by declaring the need for women to claim free speech.

“What then can woman do for the slave when she herself is under the feet of man shamed into silence?” -Angelina Grimke

Angelina fell ill in 1838, but recovered enough in time to become, the first woman to speak before a US legislative body on February 21, She bravely declared, “I stand before you, on behalf of the 20,000 women of Massachusetts whose names are enrolled on petitions [which] relate to the great and solemn subject of slavery…”

Later Years Angelina Grimke came to know Theodore Weld, a fellow abolitionist, through her work, and married him on May 14, Although the Grimke sisters’ speaking careers had ended, they remained active in the cause of abolishing slavery through literary works. – Angelina and Theodore wrote American Slavery As It Is in 1839, a documentary on the evils of the southern labor system. – During the Civil War, both sisters supported the Union effort. Sarah Grimke died at age of 81 in December Angelina was paralyzed for several years because of strokes and later died on October 26, Theodore Weld survived until 1895, but all three of them lived to see the end of slavery and the rise of the women’s rights movement.

“I want to be identified with the negro; until he gets his rights, we shall never have ours.” -Angelina Grimke

Works Cited Berkin, Carol. “Angelina and Sarah Grimke: Abolitionist Sisters.” Gildernehrman.org. History Now, Web. 6 March “Grimke Sisters.” Nps.gov. National Park Service: U.S. Department of the Interior, 16 September Web. 6 March “Sarah Grimke ( ) and Angelina Grimke Weld ( ).” Ocp.hul.harvard.edu. The President and Fellows of Harvard College, Web. 6 March "People and Ideas: Angelina and Sarah Grimke." PBS.org. PBS, 11 Oct Web. 8 March "Sarah Grimke and Angelina Grimke Weld." Home page. Harvard University Library Open Collections Program: Harvard University. n.d. Web. 22 Mar Whipps, Judy. "Sarah Grimke and Angelina Grimke Weld.” Home page. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 25 March Web. 8 March