Historical social movements in abolition and woman suffrage

¶ … Social Movement -Abolition & Woman Suffage

Abolition Questions:

Stewart and Truth both managed to instill intense feelings in their audiences primarily because of their courage and because they were well-acquainted with the fact that they needed to have people emotionally involved in their stories in order to be listened properly. These women provided audiences with unquestionable arguments and made it possible for people to understand that things were going to change in the future.

By claiming that "white men will be in a fix pretty soon" (Truth 26), Truth demonstrated that she was well-acquainted with the fact that reform was around the corner. Similarly, Stewart emphasizes that suffering does not happen in vain and that future communities are going to learn from all of the pain that her people experienced (Stewart 3).

Truth was a wonderful orator and this is perfectly exemplified at the point when she relates to Christ's background with the purpose of amusing the audience. Her talent makes it possible for people to agree with her and to support her in spite of the fact that she criticizes notable individuals (Truth 26).

Douglass does not hesitate to introduce vivid imagery regarding the wrongness that he associated with the institution of slavery and makes it possible for people to understand that it is a corrupt concept. By combining humor with criticism he manages to send the overall right message concerning slavery and its injustice (Douglass 11).

3. The Campbell version of Truth's speech is more colorful as it presents how the audience reacts to the speaker's thinking. Campbell made it possible for readers to understand that the audience actually appreciated Truth and supported her words.

The other version of Truth speech is longer, but fails to portray an image concerning the atmosphere present as the woman expressed her thinking freely. Furthermore, this version accentuates the fact that Campbell speaks from the perspective of an African-American as if this was important when considering that the speech was mainly intended to criticize gender differences.

4. Frederick Douglass considered that the American people as a whole were wrong in celebrating the Fourth of July as long as they continued to accept slavery as an essential part of the country's traditions. By using the words 'you' and 'your' he wanted to highlight that African-Americans had no place in celebrating the day.

By claiming that "it is the birthday of your national independence, and of your political freedom" (Douglass 1), Douglass wants people to acknowledge that non-slaves are unable to celebrate because they are not free.

Suffrage Questions:

1. One of the first strategies that the Sentinels employed with the purpose of being heard was to relate to early twentieth century gender concepts that would provide political voice to women. Also, by emphasizing that they were an active part of the American society, they insisted that they should receive equal democratic recognition from the masses. Lastly, they took advantage of President Wilson's militaristic doctrine to turn their fight into a greater conflict that involved women everywhere who needed to be freed from being persecuted as a result of their gender.

2. Susan B. Anthony used the Fourth Amendment as a tool to demonstrate that she was right in lobbying in regard to women suffrage. "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States, and of the state wherein they reside" and "No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws" clearly state that women should be allowed to vote.

The first quote underlines that women need to be provided with their rights as citizens while the second states that it is practically illegal for a state to deny women the right to vote.