Abolitionism And Transcendentalism

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During the mid-1800’s American society was heavily influenced by conflicts of ideas and beliefs and mass social movements such as abolitionism and transcendentalism. Although the Civil War was fought originally to re-establish unity within the Union, Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation brought the moral conflict of whether slavery was right into the war and made it a prominent driving force in the fight for abolition and suffrage. Abolitionists sought to end the prejudices against African Americans and to give them equal rights. The increasingly prominent movement of transcendentalism during this time period made people want to move away from the constraints of society and become independent while searching for their individuality. …show more content…

Truth disputes the arguments made by previous male speakers by countering not only their discrimination against women but also their prejudice against herself, a black woman. “Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain’t I a woman?” This shows how during the time period, men would say they wanted to protect women from society; however, they are only will to shelter white women from the brutality of society. “I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me… and bear the lash as well!” Truth argues that women should be allowed to have freedom to do as they please because she can do things men do and possibly do it better. “If my cup won't hold but a pint and your's holds a quart, wouldn't you be mean not to let me have my little half-measure full?” A previous male speaker argued that women didn't have enough “intellect” to have the same rights and freedoms as men; however, Truth believes that blacks and women should have equal rights to men even if they aren’t as intelligent. An argument was made that women couldn’t have equal rights because “Christ wasn't a woman,” but Truth asks where Jesus came from and states, "from God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with Him.” To finalize her arguments, Truth discusses how one woman was able to turn the world upside down by herself; now “these women together ought to be able to turn it back again! And they [are] asking to do it, the men better let

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