Key Figures
Sojourner Truth (Unknown-1883)
Sojourner Truth, born into slavery in Swartekill, New York, and became a powerful voice for abolition, African-American civil rights, women’s rights, and temperance. Escaping to freedom with her infant daughter in 1826, Truth became a public speaker, captivating audiences with speeches like “Ain’t I a Woman?” delivered at the 1851 Women’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio. Truth bridged the gap between women’s rights activism and abolitionism.
Lucretia Coffin Mott (1793-1880)
Lucretia Coffin Mott was an abolitionist, feminist, and social reformer whose Quaker faith inspired her lifelong advocacy for equality and justice. Mott fought against slavery, co-founding the American Anti-Slavery Society and supporting the Underground Railroad. Mott was a key organizer of the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention, helping draft the Declaration of Sentiments, a cornerstone of the women’s rights movement. Her activism extended to labor rights, education reform, and nonviolence, and she fought for universal suffrage and fair treatment for marginalized groups. Mott’s efforts helped lay the foundation for abolition and women’s suffrage in America.
Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin (1797-1851)
Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin was an English writer and philosopher and is known as one of the founders of modern feminism. Her work, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792), argued for women's education and equality, challenging societal norms. Wollstonecraft critiqued traditional gender roles and sought to redefine women's place in society. Her ideas laid the foundation for later feminist movements.
Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902)
Elizabeth Cady Stanton was a leading figure in the women’s rights movement and the fight for women’s suffrage in the United States. She co-organized the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention and co-authored the Declaration of Sentiments. Stanton’s activism extended to issues like property rights, divorce law reform, and education for women. Stanton partnered with Susan B. Anthony to advance the suffrage movement, helping to lay the groundwork for the passing of the 19th Amendment.
Lucy Stone (1818-1893)
Lucy Stone was an American suffragist, abolitionist, and women’s rights advocate, known for being the first woman in Massachusetts to earn a college degree. Stone supported abolition and women’s equality. She helped organize the first National Woman's Rights Convention in 1850 and was a founder of the American Woman Suffrage Association, which focused on securing voting rights at the state level. She also challenged norms by retaining her maiden name after marriage.
Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906)
Susan B. Anthony was an American suffragist, abolitionist, and women’s rights advocate. She was a key leader in the women’s suffrage movement. Anthony co-founded the National Woman Suffrage Association with Elizabeth Cady Stanton and worked to secure voting rights for women, including delivering speeches and lobbying lawmakers nationwide. Anthony also fought for labor rights, abolition, and temperance. She was famously arrested for voting illegally in 1872. Her efforts helped pave the way for the passage of the 19th Amendment, securing women’s right to vote.