Margaret Fuller

Personal Statement:

I was born May 23, 1810 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. My father took my education very seriously. He started teaching me Latin at the age of six. I went to many boarding schools and learned a lot. I started teaching myself different modern languages, so I could keep up with the world's literature. I found that I really enjoyed reading and I hopped to make a life out of journalism. I got a job as the chief editor of the Dial. Here I was able to spread my ideas of women's rights to the world. I was also able to spread my ideas through my book Women in the 19th Century, which I would say was my biggest contribution to America.

Issue: 

I believe strongly in women's rights. I believe women should have equal opportunity in education, politics, and economics. We should be able to receive the same education as men, we should be able to vote, and we should be able to have the same jobs as men. I developed my beliefs in women's rights through studying philosophy. I felt it was wrong for men to say that everyone is created equal, but treat us unfairly and subordinate to them. Women should have the same right's as men.

Solution:

I believe that legislation needs to be passed in order to make these changes happen. I believe that I was successful in changing peoples minds and I do believe that legislation will be coming to allow women to vote. I faced much opposition. Men telling me I was just angry I wasn't a man, and women telling me I was all talk and no action. I didn't listen to these people though. I kept pushing on towards my goal.

Relationship with others:

Along with women's rights I also agreed with temperance, abolition, education reforms, prison reforms, and even transcendentalism. I wasn't for or against Utopian communities though. I would feel very comfortable sitting with anyone who agrees with women's rights, abolition, and education reform. These are the three things that I was most passionate about. I would love to sit with Susan B. Anthony seeing as advocated for the same things as me. I wouldn't mind sitting with people who agreed with temperance, prison reforms, or transcendentalism. I feel it would be awkward though to sit with people who advocated for Utopian communities because they weren't something I believed in. I would strongly dislike to sit by anyone who opposed my views.