Lucretia Mott - Abolitionist & Women's Rights Movement

Personal Statement: My name is Lucretia Mott and I was born in January of 1793 in Nantucket, Massachusetts. I was the second child of eight. At the age of thirteen I was sent to the Nine Partners Quaker Boarding School in New York. I became a teacher after I graduated and when I realized that male teachers were paid three times more than female ones, I became interested in women’s rights. I eventually became a Quaker minister and with the help of my husband, James Mott, traveled. James created the American Anti-Slavery Society and I was the only woman to speak at the organizational meeting. After the Civil War, I was elected the first president of the American Equal Rights Association

Issue: I was very involved in the anti-slavery and women’s rights movements. As I was motivated by religion, I believed that slavery was evil. I believe that women and men should have equal rights and that slavery should be abolished. Even though I faced persecution from others, I stayed involved and worked hard, keeping a balance between running my home well and being a part of the movements.

Solution: I believe that the way to end these problems is to spread the word about these issues and think about the morality of them. I attended many conventions and debates that inspired me to travel and spread the word to everyone else. I became a Quaker minister and traveled giving sermons that included anti-slavery sentiments. My husband created the American Anti-Slavery Society and I attended all three national Anti-Slavery Conventions of American Women, the General Anti-Slavery Convention. Inspired by the debates I listened to, I continued travelling in the United States and gave speeches at many big towns and even arranged to meet with slave owners to discuss the morality of slavery. I had an active role in the abolition and suffrage movement until my death. I founded and was involved in many organizations and associations and even founded a college. My goal was eventually achieved as slavery was abolished, after which I advocated for suffrage for African Americans.

Relationships: I agreed with the movement going for equality of marriage and worked with Stanton in regards to women’s rights. I would feel comfortable sitting with anybody that was anti-slavery and anyone that has possibly dipped into the women’s rights movement. I would not like to sit with anyone that’s a slave owner or that’s pro-slavery.