Harriet Tubman

Personal Statement:
I was born Armanita Harriet Ross to slave parents, Harriet Green and Ben Ross, in Dorchester County, Maryland in the 1820’s. Back then it wasn't important to keep documentation of our(the slaves) birth, so I don't know the exact date.I grew up as a slave , and my entire family was enslaved. I worked fro the Brodess family. Even with 9 children, including myself slavery still tore us apart. I married a free black man named John Tubman around 1844, and not far after, I changed my name to Harriet. I had seizures, delusions, and narcoleptic attacks due to a head injury so my owner tried to sell me, but a week later Brodess died. Following his death, my brothers and I fled on September 17, 1849 because we knew we were going to sold. Edward’s widow, Eliza, posted a runaway notice offering a reward for each of us to be returned. We went back on our own, together. However, I managed to escape one more time with the help of the Underground Railroad.The Underground Railroad was a long, taxing trail for slaves to freedom. I took over 19 trips on the railroad looking for m family and helping over 300 slaves to freedom in the process. In 1851, I returned to Dorchester County for the first time since my escape to find my husband John,but he was married to another woman and did not want to come with. In November 1860, I was in search of my sister and her two children as my last trip. When I made it back I found that she had died, and that I did not have enough money to free her kids. So, I made my way up back north with a group of fugitives. I finally settled in Auburn, and married a man named Nelson Davis, a war veteran. In 1874 we adopted our baby girl Gertie.

Issue: 
I went against slavery and the fugitive slave law.

Solutions:
Helped over 300 slaves to freedom through the Underground Railroad, and helped more flee to Canada after the fugitive slave act was passed. I joined a group of abolitionists, then assisted fugitives in Port Royal and serving as a nurse. I accompanied Montgomery and his troops in rescuing more than 700 slaves-- being the first woman to ever do something like that. For two more years I worked for the Union forces, then when the war was over I returned to my home in Auburn, New York. In my later years, I worked to promote women’s suffrage. I began attending meetings of suffragist organizations, and I was soon working alongside inspirational women like Susan B. Anthony and Emily Howland. I traveled to New York, Boston, and Washington, D.C. to speak out in favor of women’s voting rights.
Relationships with Others:

I would sit with Susan B. Anthony, Emily Howland, and anyone else like them.

Brigham Young

Personal Statement:
My name is Brigham Young. I was born in 1801 to a farming family in Vermont. My parents were John and Abigail Young, and I am the ninth of eleven children. When I was young I moved to New York with my parents, but when I was sixteen I left home to start my career. I didn't have much of a formal education. I learned many of my skills while being apprenticed as a carpenter and painter. I married my first wife, Miriam Works, when I was 23 years old. I was a Methodist for many years, but I converted to Mormonism in 1832 after reading the Book of Mormon. After meeting Joseph Smith, the leader of the Mormons, I was even more encouraged to follow this religion. In 1838 I went to Missouri to help the Mormons there in their move to Illinois. I also traveled to England in order to spread my religion even further. In 1941 I became the President of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles and I devoted myself to promoting my religion and bettering the lives of its followers.





Issue(s):
I was involved in what I think was a very important religious, economic, and political issue. Because Mormons were not a majority during the time I was alive they were criticized by many people. I wanted all Mormons to have the ability to express their religion freely and without being oppressed by others. I wanted to expand my church and to seek out new members and to better the lives of existing members. I hoped to expand my religion by providing a variety of opportunities and incentives to these new members.


Solution(s):
In 1851 I became the governor of Utah, and I worked to pass laws which would give Mormons more freedom. One of the things I approved of was polygamy. Having had 55 wives, this was something I supported. Other people in power did not approve of this idea, saying that I was not allowing for a separation of church and state. I was also in favor of having women’s suffrage in Utah because by increasing the amount of people who could vote, the chances of voting in favor of a Mormon increased. In order to expand Mormonism, I also encouraged believers to emigrate and build their own settlements. I encouraged and often helped these migrations of people who were ready to start new lives with the Mormon religion. By supporting small businesses and the manufacturing of local products, I helped my people become more self- sufficient. I didn't receive a good education as a child, so I did everything I could to provide and education to Mormons. I established the University of Deseret, which was later named Brigham Young University.


Relationship to Others:
During the dinner party, I would be most comfortable sitting next to someone who shares my beliefs. I would be most comfortable sitting next to Joseph Smith because he was the founder of Mormonism and the one who inspired me to convert. I would feel least comfortable sitting next to Lyman Beecher because he is a Protestant and I am a Mormon

Sojourner Truth

Personal Statement:

Hi, my name is Sojourner Truth, which is my self given name. I was born under the name Isabella Baumfree in Swartekill, Ulster County, New York, in 1797. I didn't have any formal education, for instance, I was never taught how to read or write.  I am notable to society because I was the first African American woman to win a court case against a white man. I also helped to change the way that people looked at women's rights, making public transportation companies change their policies through a court case. In order to help spread the word of slavery and women’s rights, I wrote my very popular autobiography, Narrative of Sojourner Truth: A Northern Slave.

Issue(s):
I was involved in the women's rights movement, in fact, I was the most powerful advocate. I believe that women as just as hard working as men, if not more. When I gave my speech, "Ain't I a woman?" I was able to show off to the people exactly how much it means to me to look at women as an equal to men. Also, being a former slave myself, I would also like to stand up against slavery. I went to the White House and spoke with president Lincoln in order to speak up and have the freed-people be able to get a job. I was mostly driven by religion. I believed that God was going to help us all out eventually if we put our faith in him.

Solution(s):
A way that I took a stand against these issues is by going to court and speaking out. To me success means to be able to achieve something you have set your mind to by working hard and standing up for what you believe is right. My ultimate goal was to change people's point of view upon women. I want them to all see women as an equal to man. One of the biggest challenge I had to face was getting beaten by my owner who didn't agree with my point of view. Another challenge that got in my way is the amount of people that would actually be against me. Speaking up for me was very hard.

Sojourner Truth

Personal Statement: My name is Sojourner Truth but I was born as Isabella Baumfree in 1797 in Swartekill, New York. I did not go to school because I was a slave for the first 29 years of my life so i did not know how to read or write. I spoke only Dutch until the 9th year of my life. I ran away from slavery a year before it was abolished in the state of New York in 1827. I later won a court case against a white man in order to get my son out of slavery in Alabama, where he was severely abused by his owner. I was the first woman to go to court against a white man and win a court case. I also fought for women's rights and even spoke at the Ohio Women's Rights Convention where I gave my “Ain’t I a Woman” speech. In June of 1843 I changed my name to Sojourner Truth and became a Methodist. I spent the rest of my life traveling and preaching about the abolition of slavery and women’s rights.

Issue: From the day I was born I was a slave, both my parents and all of my siblings were also slaves, which made me have strong feelings against slavery. As a 9 year old I was sold from one slave owner to another along with a flock of sheep for $100. I was abused and mistreated by my owners on a daily basis and they even forced me to marry and have kids with another one of their slaves that way they could keep my offspring as property. Although I ran away from it I still believe that slavery is wrong, it lets whites and men with power treat others horribly and use them for your own profit just because of their skin color.

Solution: I ran away from slavery after 29 years of being abused and taken advantage of. A year later I found that one of children was illegally sold to a slave owner in Alabama. I knew the treatment of slaves down there was a lot harsher so I was willing to do anything to get him out of there and freed. I went to court and won the case and got my son back. It was the first time a judge made a decision in favoring the African American over a white man. I believe that slavery should be abolished, and that state and federal authorities should see their wrongdoing and end it altogether. I wasn't successful at ending slavery but I sure did contribute all the efforts I could make to get the word out through my speeches and the court case. I also met President Lincoln during the Civil War and discussed the enlistment of blacks in the army.

Relationship to others: I spoke about abolition, women's rights, prison reform, and preached to the Michigan Legislature against capital punishment. Not everyone welcomed my preaching and lectures, but I had many friends and staunch support among many influential people at this time, including Amy Post, Parker Pillsbury, Frances Gage, Wendell Phillips, William Lloyd Garrison, Laura Smith Haviland, Lucretia Mott, Ellen G. White, and Susan B. Anthony.

Arthur Tappan

Arthur Tappan 

Work:

After finding success in the silk business with my brother Lewis in 1826. We began to fight for what he called "saving souls". The success of our business allowed us to part take in making social revolution. But do to the unpopularity of freeing slaves we were impacted during the Abolitionist Riots of 1834. Where my silk business was vandalized. I funded a lot Oberlin and Keyon colleges in order for them to  promote  education on subjects like social issues. I later co founded the American Anti- Slavery Society with William Garrison. I later began my own organization with my brother called   American and Foreign Anti- Slavery Society in 1840. I also donated money to the underground railroads.

Work:

After finding success in the silk business with my brother Lewis in 1826. We began to fight for what he called "saving souls". The success of our business allowed us to part take in making social revolution. But do to the unpopularity of freeing slaves we were impacted during the Abolitionist Riots of 1834. Where my silk business was vandalized. I funded a lot Oberlin and Keyon colleges in order for them to  promote  education on subjects like social issues. I later co founded the American Anti- Slavery Society with William Garrison. I later began my own organization with my brother called   American and Foreign Anti- Slavery Society in 1840. I also donated money to the under ground railroads.

Issues:

I believe that the only way to save our souls is to stop this indignant slavery in the America. We are after all a land of the free but by having slavery not only are we damning ourselves but our country.

Associates:

I have worked with numerous great men. I worked with William Garrison and together we establish the American society anti- slavery. I worked along side my brother Lewis. And together we ran the New York Journal of Commerce . Where tried to publish news that was important and call people to take action against slavery and issues that made our country troubled.

Henry Clay

Personal Statement:

Hello, my name is Henry Clay. I was born April 12, 1777 in Hanover County, Virginia. My parents are Reverend John Clay, who passed away in 1781, and Elizabeth Hudson Clay, and I am also the seventh of nine children. I grew up in Hanover County but ten years after my father passed my stepfather moved our family out to Richmond where I worked as a clerk and later a secretary to the chancellor of the High Court of Chancery. I had very little regular education, but I often read from books in Wythe's library and made the best of the little education I had. I moved to Lexington, Kentucky in 1797 and became a successful while also meeting my wife ,Lucretia Hart, two years later and who I have 11 children with. My lifestyle was  similar to that of any man living in the South or West. I was a drinking and gambling man, but that didn't stop me from having great political success. The world was my school and as John Quincy Adam's said, I am a half educated man with all the virtues indispensable to a popular man.

Issues:

I was an American political leader and secretary of state, and I came to national prominence as leader of the "War Hawks," who drove the country into the War of 1812. I was a Congressman and was elected Speaker of the House six times. I was chosen to as part of the group of men to go make the Treaty of Ghent. I also developed the "American System" that involved the Bank of the U.S and protective tariffs. One of my best known achievements was the Missouri Compromise. For the next 40 years, I worked for international peace and sought to reconcile warring factions in the nation. I was a big presence in the abolition movement.

Solution:

Even though my American system was put into effect, it didn't reach its full potential until after the civil war. I believe in a functioning economy based off of protective tariffs. Another thing to note is that although I made the Missouri Compromise, I was neither for or against slavery. I was indeed a slave owner, but I believed in the eventual emancipation of slaves. I was successful in both of my goals, but it didn't come easy, I faced a large amount of opposition, especially from the controversy of the "Corrupt Bargain".

Relationship to others:

Overall I could say that I could sit next to almost anyone who isn't a Jacksonian due to the "Corrupt Bargain" issue. Since I am neutral to the slavery issue I would have no problem sitting next to someone like Frederick Douglas, or even someone who supports slavery.

Joseph Smith

Personal Statement: I am Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or more popularly today known mormonism. During the Second Great Awakening in America, I had some visions from God. These visions eventually led me to a set of buried golden plates that had the whole foundation of my religion on them. The stories that they held told of an ancient American civilization that believed and worshiped Jesus Christ hundreds of years before he was even born. After discovering these plates at a young age, I annually visited the site of these plates where I met with an angel. I finally realized that I had to publish these works and set up a church to worship these ideas. Over the years, I moved from New York, to Ohio, to Missouri, and then to Nauvoo, Illinois where I finally found the right place to establish this religion.

Issues and Solutions: In the city of Nauvoo, I was very involved and influential in local politics, in fact I had a presidential campaign, which was ultimately unsuccessful. Economically, I supported high tariffs and a strong federal and central bank in order to support American business. Socially, I believed that slavery was wrong and should have been abolished. Also, I believed in a strong theocratic government to be the ideal way to govern a nation.

Relationship to others: I would probably most want to sit with Brigham Young who carried on the LDS faith after I died. He expanded it to its current home in Utah. I would probably not want to sit by Quaker religious reformers namely someone like Angelina Grimke.