Rights Of Women In The 1830's Through 1870

The 1830’s through 1861 was a time of rebellion and progress. When Cyrus McCormick invented the mechanical mower, it increased the efficiency of wheat farming. The Market Revolution brought railways, new farming systems and an increased need for labor. Wheat farming, cotton trading, and industrial factories were expanding. Slaves did more work than ever and the rights of people were not being respected. African-Americans were slaves for too long and were finally getting angry about working for no pay and no freedom. During the War of 1812, women had the experience of what it would be like to have equal to or more rights than men. Workers who were white no longer felt like the work they were doing was earning them the pay they deserved and

During the war of 1812 and even back to the American Revolution, when the men were away a war the women of America got a taste of freedom. The freedom was something that was wanted but when the men returned home each time women lose the freedom they had gained. Lucretia Mott, one of the times most influential women fought for women's equality in all areas. She believed women should be able to work in law firms or businesses alongside men. She also relates the rights of women to religion in the sense that Adam and Eve were created as equals why has this idea shifted. At one time in History women were respected and thought to have value, now it was almost as if they were useless. Lucy Stone had similar feelings like Lucretia Mott, but her views were more extreme. Mott stated what women could do to change and rise because Stone said what would happen if nobody fought alongside them. She states that if women do not rise up they will be oppressed for centuries to come. She also similarly to David Walker that this was the time to stand up and rebel. Lowell women agreed with all the above assertions, but they wanted to see the change. Their reports were full of impatience and readiness to rebel. A rebellion was necessary for women to meet a certain amount of freedom. Women were no longer willing to accept the role of mother or housemaids. They were slowly realizing that they had more abilities other than the act of bearing children and

God and religion were no longer seen as holy in most people's mind but as a way to have power over someone else and have a feeling of righteousness in their acts of harm or cruelty. Everybody had an opinion about religion and everybody's opinion was different. Frederick Douglass who was enslaved to many religious people does not view religion as a good thing because how can something be good that gives people the righteousness to kill and treat others as trash. Religion had allowed his white slaveholders/owners to feel saved by god for their wrongdoings by going to church. In turn this has made the masters harsher in their punishments for the slaves. Slaves saw how their masters would turn when religion gave them an easy answer for forgiveness. William Lloyd Garrison thought that if the government wouldn't listen then there was a need to go for a “higher power”. Garrisons ideas agree with Douglas in the sense that the slaves owners had lost their way but he still believed that religion and god had its good. He believed that since the government was corrupt then reading out to god was the best options. Lucy Stone and Elizabeth Cady Stanton believed that the bible was degrading towards women because it put the idea that men were more important and holy over women. Religion was easy to