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More 19th Century
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Monday, December 29, 2003 - 10:56 AM
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The 19th century in the United States never stops fascinating me. As I step through this time period and briefly read about Manifest Destiny, Native American Relocation, and now the Civil War, I am becoming more and more interested page by page. US Legislation instituted around this time is very interesting just by itself.
The civil war began April 12, 1861 and ended April 18, 1865. In January 1865, with fighting still taking place, Amendment 13 of the Constitution of the United States was put in place which banned slavery and involuntary servitude. In 1870, Amendment 15 attempted to make sure that the rights of citizens of the United States to vote would not be denied because of race, color, or previous status of servitude. Still, the definition of voting citizen excluded women.
Women's right to vote was not granted until 1920, and in the 1860's and 1870's when this legislation was being passed, many key figures in the women's rights movement stood up and refused to be silent. Sojourner Truth spoke about current events in 1867 at a meeting of the American Equal Rights Association. It was very clear to her that the trend towards African American equality still left out black females.
Speaking avidly about not letting the equal rights movements pass women by, Sojourner Truth said:
"There is a great stir about colored men getting their rights, but not a word about the colored women; and if colored men get their rights, and not colored women theirs, you see the colored men will be masters over the women, and it will be just as bad as it was before. So I am for keeping the thing going while things are stirring; because if we wait till it is still, it will take a great while to get it going again."
Sojourner Truth was a very interesting character from this time period and an extremely important figure in civil rights for not only African Americans, but for her gender. She was outspoken for many years on many issues. In the speech, she mentioned how long she had been fighting for equal rights. She said, "I am above eighty years old; it is about time for me to be going. I have been forty years a slave and forty years free and would be here forty years more to have equal rights for all."
Sexism and racism are still rampant in America, but these late 19th century movements progress forward still today. It is my hope that every generation born will grow more and more accustomed to equality of race and gender in America. Looking at the progress made and the long road ahead serves to remind me of many other movements also taking place today. Struggles against poverty and homelessness are two that come to mind which also reach into all the other movements. Homosexual rights are another one. It's utterly fascinating to look back on progress of the past and to know that we can continue to be part of the progress today.
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