Abolitionism
And on the path of
abolitionism is where Lucretia Mott’s effect on American society began. Unlike some activists of the time who
advocated a gradual emancipation of slaves and their recolonization in Africa, Mott
advocated a more severe approach. She
agreed with the view of William Lloyd Garrison, that immediate freedom
of slaves was necessary.[12] Garrison, Mott, and other activists surely
had their work cut out for them. To
change the minds of so many pro-slavery Americans, or at least the minds of
those who could end slavery via legislation, anti-slavery activists would have
to create a stir. In 1833 in
Philadelphia, Lucretia Mott was one of four women who were part of the founding
of the American Anti-Slavery Society, and Mott was even allowed to speak.[13] These four women then formed their own
Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society,[14]
and Mott served on its executive committee.[15] In this capacity, Mott could dictate the
actions of the society. And she dictated
the society’s actions in a way that reinforced the goal of the society. The society had both black and white members
and it prohibited its members from buying goods produced by slaves.[16] Mott did this not only because she believed
it was the moral, Christian thing to do, but also because she knew that the
actions of society members must reinforce their words. They could allow nothing to deter them from
their purpose. Mott insisted that white
and black women abolitionists continue to work together, although criticism and
violence, such as the burning down of Philadelphia Hall, sometimes resulted
because of it.[17] The purpose of these anti-slavery societies
was to raise public awareness for the movement to end slavery. Beginning after 1835, Lucretia Mott was one
of the organizers of a national campaign to gather signatures for a petition
that would be used to convince Congress to abolish slavery in the District of
Columbia.[18] Gathering petitions was not an easy
task. It was hard work that encompassed
the challenging of social standards for women and the antagonizing of angry
pro-slavery individuals. The woman
petitioners traveled door to door and faced irate disapprovers.[19]
As the years passed, Mott
continued on her quest to change society.
At the same time, the issues of slavery and its abolishment became more
volatile. The Civil War was
approaching. In 1861 Mott began
speaking with other anti-slavery speakers, such as Frederick Douglass, to
crowds in New York, so as to influence President-elect Abraham Lincoln.[20] Finally, the decade’s worth of efforts by
Lucretia Mott and other abolitionists returned some positive results. Presidents Lincoln set into effect his
Emancipation Proclamation January 1, 1863, which freed all slaves living in
states in rebellion. Then the
Thirteenth Amendment was ratified in December of 1865, declaring slavery
illegal. Truly, these were magnificent
accomplishments for abolitionists such as Mott.
This page was created by Leah Aubrey.
mailto:laubrey0@georgetowncollege.edu
This page was last updated on 2/23/01.
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