React to Speeches

Reacting to Town Hall Speeches

Many of us associate the struggle for human rights and the abolition of slavery with individuals who dared to speak up during extremely trying times. Abigail Adams, Susan B. Anthony, and Harriet Jacobs are three people who made distinct contributions to the struggle for equality and freedom. Look at their biographies and the particular difficulties they encountered while engaging in activism. 

Although Harriet Jacobs was born into slavery, she spent a significant portion of her early years unaware that she was a slave. Her early years were characterized by affection and support, since she shared residence with her father, brother, and grandmother. Rarely did slaves at the period learn to read and write, but her mistress did just that. Her father perished away, tragically, and she was not even permitted to attend his funeral. Jacobs was made to work for a man named Dr. Flint following his death. Dr. Flint mistreated her and attempted to rape her in order to have children who would likewise grow up to be slaves. Harriet sought assistance from Mr. Sands, with whom she had two children, in order to flee his abuse. She fled from Dr. Flint in 1842 and spent seven years hiding in her grandmother's attic before making her way to the North. She discovered independence in Philadelphia and New York, where she started a career as a nursemaid. Even though Harriet Jacobs was formally free by 1852, she continued to live her life. She penned letters and finally her autobiography, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, detailing the sexual and mental abuse she suffered while a slave because she wanted to tell her tale.

Even though Abigail Adams did not grow up in a slave household, she was exposed to slavery on a daily basis. She even owned slaves with her husband, John Adams. Despite not having received a formal education, Abigail was nevertheless a bright woman. John, her spouse and a well-known politician, frequently wrote to her about his opinions. Abigail was not aware of the appalling conditions in Britain until she visited Europe, which made her think about slavery in the United States.

The women's rights movement is most known for Susan B. Anthony, especially for her contribution to the passage of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote. She was a fervent supporter of abolition as well, so her activity went beyond that. Her family's farmhouse served as a gathering place for abolitionists opposed to slavery as early as 1845. She committed herself to putting an end to the practice of slavery when she joined the Anti-Slavery Society as an agent in 1856. Through her work, Susan B. Anthony helped to unite the movements for women's rights and racial equality. Her reputation as a trailblazer for these causes serves as a reminder of how closely related the fights for justice and freedom are.

It was interesting to learn about someone other than Lucretia Mott. Each of these activists contributed to the fight of equality in all ways. Their courage and commitment to justice inspire us to continue fighting for a better, more equal world.

Town Hall Meeting

 

Researching Lucretia Mott

When researching Lucretia Mott reveals layers of American history that should be emphasized into today's society. Born January 3, 1793, Mott was not only a pioneering abolitionist but also one of the earliest advocates for women's rights. As I dove into the details in her life, I realized how deeply understanding her fights against slavery and her struggle for women equality were. One part that stood out to me was the environment that Lucretia grew up in. Lucretia was born on Nantucket Island in Massachusetts, where the concept of women's empowerment resonated with her from a young age as she was surrounded by strong, independent women who ran the island while the men were away at sea. This environment sparked her passion for changing the way women are treated in the world. As she got older, her ability to become an advocate for equality and put an end to slavery could not have happened without her education. Lucretia Mott went to school and then later on became a teacher where she found her husband James Mott.

The Mott’s became more involved in the abolitionists movement as she was one of the founders of the Philadelphia Female Anti Slavery Society in 1833, an organization that provided women a platform to actively advocate for the end of slavery. As I delved into her speeches and writings, it was clear that she was an individual with high education, and one with high emotion about advocating for women's rights and ending slavery. What I found interesting as well was how Lucretia was able to interlink the abolitionist cause to the rights of women. The turning point in Motts activism came in 1840 when she attended the World Anti-Slavery Convention in London. She was able to build a strong connection with Elizabeth Cady Stanton, where the two of them worked together in establishing women's rights once they returned to the United States. A few years later in 1848, Mott helped organize the Seneca Falls Organization in New York, which was the first women's convention in history. Mott helped shape the “Declaration of Sentiments” , underlining the importance of allowing women to vote. Later on in her life, Lucretia was able to fight for both womens rights and abolitionism. In 1850, she joined the Underground Railroad and helped a fugitive slave escape and reach freedom. Furthermore, her and Stanton objected to the 14th and 15th amendment, giving black men the opportunity to vote.

Researching Lucretia Mott has been an inspiring and eye-opening journey. What struck me most was her relentless dedication to justice in all its forms. She wasn’t content with just fighting for the abolition of slavery, she understood that the fight for equality extended to women as well. Her work laid the groundwork for the feminist movement and set a precedent for future generations of activists. Mott’s life is a reminder that the struggle for equality is long and often difficult, but it is always worth the effort. Her legacy continues to inspire those who believe in a just and equal world for all. 

Supreme Court

Understanding the Role of the Supreme Court

Watching the video about the Supreme Court taught me several traditions and rules that I was unsure of before. One surprising fact was that each Justice is responsible for different cases, which helps distribute power evenly among them. The Supreme Court consists of nine judges discuss different decisions to make that can either benefit or hurt ones life. The Supreme Court plays such a significant role in ensuring that the fairness and equality for each case will be presented to society. They have the power to give directives to the states, Congress, and the president about what they may and cannot do. According to the Supreme Court video, they meet weekly to decide which cases to take each week out of the 100 they receive each week, and before each meeting, every Justice shakes each others hand. This tradition ensures  mutual respect between each Justice, even when they disagree. In these meetings, everyone speaks once before anyone can speak twice, making sure all voices are heard. 

The idea that oral arguments are essentially a discussion between the Justices with attorneys serving as middlemen intrigued me. The public is informed by broadcast or print announcements when a case is verified by the Court. The "Real Case or Controversy" rule, which states that the court only considers actual disputes rather than hypothetical ones, is another important consideration. 

The most important lesson I learned is that every Justice has distinct duties that contribute to upholding justice. I didn't know how intricate the American legal system is or how much work goes into maintaining justice until I moved here from Europe. I was able to see in this film how the Justices collaborate to make rulings that strike a balance between equality and respect. 

Team Bible Challenge

 For and Against Slavery

 

Arguments for and against slavery concerned not just intellectual concepts but also the future of society and the lives of individuals. The debates between the opposing sides combined morals, politics, and economics, demonstrating how deeply ingrained slavery was in the basis of the United States. Initially, the argument for slavery suggests that it was beneficial to society, helping the economy and maintaining social order. On the contrary, the argument against slavery focuses on moral reasons, including certain passages throughout the Bible that specifically contradict the idea of slavery. These debates reflected the deep divide over an issue that would shape the country’s future.

 

 The Bible contains several passages that show it stands against slavery by emphasizing the value and dignity of each person. In Genesis 1:27, it states that all people are created in God's image, suggesting that everyone should be treated equally no matter their physical appearance. Furthermore, this idea goes against the belief that one person can own or control another. Additionally, in the Old Testament, the story of the Israelites escaping slavery in Egypt (Exodus) highlights God's desire for freedom and justice, portraying how slavery is not part of His plan for humanity. 

In the New Testament, Galatians 3:28 says "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus".  This verses reiterates the idea mentioned previously how all people should be treated equally regardless of their background or social status, further challenging the main concept of slavery. Moreover, the Bible emphasizes we should love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:31), which questions the arguments for slavery as treating someone as property is not an act of love rather is an act of cruelty. While some people in history used the Bible to defend slavery, a deeper understanding of its teachings on love, freedom and equality shows that the Bible is actually against it. 

The Bible’s treatment of slavery is a topic that has sparked a lot of debate over time. In many parts of the world of both the Old and New Testaments, slavery is not only mentioned about also regulated, which suggests that it was an accepted practice during the time of the Bible being written. For example, in the Old Testament, in the book of Exodus and Leviticus includes laws about how slaves should be treated. In Leviticus 25:44-46, it outlines rules about how long an Israelite should be a slave before being freed. In the New Testament, while there are passages calling fair treatment of slaves, there is no direct condemnation of slavery. Instead, slaves are often encouraged to obey their masters. And masters are told be kind to their slaves. Paul’s letter to Philemon asks a slave owner to forgive a runaway slave, but it doesn’t question the practice of slavery itself.

These passages show that slavery was an accepted part of society at the time. However, some argue that the Bible’s core teachings on love, justice, and equality contradict the idea of slavery. Interpretations of these texts have evolved over time.