Sojourner Truth

Sojourner Truth was a prominent abolitionist and women's rights activist. Born a slave in New York State, she had at least three of her children sold away from her. After escaping slavery, Truth embraced religion and became involved in moral reform and abolitionist work. She collected supplies for black regiments during the Civil War and immersed herself in advocating for freed people during the Reconstruction period. Truth was a powerful and impassioned speaker whose legacy of feminism and racial equality still resonates today. She is perhaps best known for her stirring "Ain't I a Woman?" speech, delivered at a women's convention in Ohio in 1851.

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/sojtruth-woman.asp

Author: Sojourner Truth
Place: Women's Convention in Ohio, 1851
Prior Knowledge:  She was an African woman and slave who fought for both rights.
Audience: Directed towards the white women who attended the convention 
Reason: Even though she is a woman, she is never treated with respect like the other women.
The Main Idea: Men easily mock and detest women and show that women do not have the same privileges in government like they do. 
Significance: She compares herself any man and has the same qualities and work skills and can endure anything they do.

Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman is perhaps the most well-known of all the Underground Railroad's "conductors." She made 19 trips into the South and escorted over 300 slaves to freedom. And, as she once proudly pointed out to Frederick Douglass, in all of her journeys she never lost a single passenger. Tubman was born a slave in Maryland's Dorchester County around 1820. At age five or six, she began to work as a house servant. Seven years later she was sent to work in the fields. Becoming friends with the leading abolitionists of the day, Tubman took part in antislavery meetings.During the Civil War Harriet Tubman worked for the Union as a cook, a nurse, and even a spy. After the war she settled in Auburn, New York, where she would spend the rest of her long life and died in 1913.


http://caho-test.cc.columbia.edu/ps/10177.html

Author: Harriet Tubman Quoted by Lydia Maria Child
Place: William Friedheim
Prior Knowledge: Harriet Tubman helped the slaves; however she tried to receive help herself.
Audience: It was intended for President Abraham Lincoln.
Reason: Harriet Tubman hoped to influence the President with her own ideas.
The Main Idea: President Abraham Lincoln needed Harriet Tubman in order for him to succeed.
Significance: Harriet Tubman believes that even though she is poor compared to the President she can help him more than anyone.

Chesapeake Leopard Incident

                The Chesapeake Leopard incident was one of the events that led up to the War of 1812. In June 1807 in Virginia, the American Chesapeake was stopped by the British ship Leopard, whose commander demanded the surrender of four sailors. Upon the refusal of the American commander, Captain James Barron, to give up the men, the Leopard opened fire. The American vessel, was unprepared for battle.
               I believe that the Chesapeake was correct in the decision to refuse the British captain's request. I strongly believe this because there was no proof of the British sayings. The whole concept of America being independent from Britain would go against their beliefs by giving the four sailors. The idea of the incident being closer to shore would not have helped. It would only have led to bad consequences because if by the shore it would have injured innocent lives by the battle. However, America should have begun to prepare themselves for war instead of declaring the war. The Chesapeake would not have been defeated if they had been more militarily prepared. 
               America should not have had to spend a copious amount on the military and  being stable would have helped them be prepared. The British should have retrieved themselves and by them kidnapping sailors was not such a great cause for them to go to war.  They did not have evidence to know whether or not the fugitive sailors were on a boat, and taking by taking the sailors was wrong. The American leaders were not responsible for the fugitives because they left out on their on will. However, the fugitives could also be blamed because they chose to not stay with their ship.

William Lloyd Garrison,Founder, American Anti-Slavery Society

"I oppose the Mexican War, as do all true opponents of slavery. President Polk is a slave owner and like all slave owners, he wants to expand slavery everywhere. That's why this war is being fought: to steal more territory from Mexico so that Mexico can be carved up into new slave states. Mexico abolished slavery in 1829, and the Texans left Mexico and established their own "country" so that they could keep their slaves. Now Texas is entering the United States as a slave state. My organization and I will speak out , organize protest meetings, write articles, publish pamphlets, and do everything legal we can do to oppose this immoral war. In our newspaper, The Liberator, we have written what we hope the Mexicans will win this war. It's not a popular statement these days, but when it comes to justice, we cannot compromise."

Link to primary source:
http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/declaration-of-sentiments-adopted-by-the-peace-convention/

In the "Declaration of Sentiments", William Lloyd wrote for the founding meeting of the American Anti-Slavery Society in December of 1833. He clearly articulated the mission of the radical abolitionists: they were to transform America through the written and spoken word.They called it “moral suasion.” However, one may also refer to it as  propaganda.The word these abolitionists wanted to spread was that slavery was sinful and must be abolished. Although the abolitionists were to later develop direct action, non-violent protest methods such as boycotts and sit-ins.  Other strategies were created to give opportunities for abolitionists to spread their message through symbolic gestures, persuasive writings or through a dramatic newspaper copy.