The Grimke sisters fought against many different people of various opinions.  Thomas Jefferson mentioned “I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that considering numbers, nature and natural means only, a revolution of the wheel of fortune, an exchange of situation, is among possible events: that it may become probable by supernatural interference The Almighty has no attribute which can take side with us in such a contest.”[1] Likewise, James Madison spoke,” A general emancipation of slaves ought to be 1. gradual. 2. equitable & satisfactory to the individuals immediately concerned. 3. consistent with the existing & durable prejudices of the nation... To be consistent with existing and probably unalterable prejudices in the U.S. freed blacks ought to be permanently removed beyond the region occupied by or alloted to a White population.”[2]   John Adams agrees,” I shudder when I think of the calamities which slavery is likely to produce in this country. You would think me mad if I were to describe my anticipations…If the gangrene is not stopped I can see nothing but insurrection of the blacks against the whites.”[3] These were just the very few who had the same beliefs as the outstanding Grimke’s.

However, there were many people who could continuously complain about how they truly needed slavery. Many believed they couldn’t survive without their slaves doing all their work. Dubuque Herald said, “What then is the South to do? Suffer the compact which brought them into the Union to be violated with impunity, and without means of redress; submit to incursions into their territory and trespass upon their property by northern abolitionists?...Who expects, who desires the South to submit to all this?”[4] Many southerners threatened to kill the sisters and threw shame on their names. Their family was shamed for their “foreign” behavior. 

Luckily, these strong-minded women had their mind set. They stood up for everyone facing gender restrictions and racism. Angelina stand above an audience and protest, “As a southerner, I feel it is my duty to come up here and bare my testimony against slavery.”[5] The Grimkes never stopped at speeches. They also had selections published into the local newspapers and sent fliers around the south so everyone would know that they will never back down, even if their life is at risk. One specific publication caused a huge uproar in the south. The sisters were told if they come back to the south they would be thrown in jail.  Sarah Grimke published,” The system of slavery is necessarily cruel. The lust of dominion inevitably produces hardness of heart, because the state of mind which craves limited power, such as slavery confers, involves a desire to use that power, and although. I know there are expectations to the exercise of barbarity on the bodies of slavery, I maintain that there can be no exceptions to the exercise of the most soul-withering cruelty on the minds of the enslaved.”[6]  However, this opened a lot of white men’s eyes and they stood by Sarah and Angelina as they fought for slavery to end.

Surprisingly, they turned many misunderstood minds on path. The life of slavery changed thanks to the Grimke sisters, but also with the help of William Loyd Garrison, Fredrick Douglas, and Harriot. Angelina felt so strongly for what she stood for, she refused to get married until the abolishment of slavery was ratified in the constitution. Even when others were constantly losing hope from all the threats, The Grimke sisters stood tall in their belief and were willing die for it. A significant event that followed the abolition publications was when John Brown found his purpose as an abolitionist. He read every paper the Grimke sisters wrote. John eventually told himself that God showed him such cruel things as he grew up for the simple fact that he will soon would have to share his stories with everyone and hopefully influencing other people to stand up for what they believe. 

Likewise, Angelina and Sarah Grimke also spoke against men. When men demanded, “shut up. Don’t stand up for those niggers.” The sister would yell back, “no, I am my own person and I will stand for my faith.” In the era of submissive women, they showed dominance over men and dared anyone to try and stop them. They were showing women that no matter what gender you are, you deserve to be heard. Also, the showed women that as an American citizen, you deserve the same opportunities as men. Women deserved the right to vote and begin their education. Therefore, a women’s movement started for equality for all genders. Soon enough, the protest were all falling in line and women began to get more rights. Without the Grimke sisters, women wouldn’t have the motivation of standing against the men.

 After a long, long, LONG time of protesting, women finally got the right to vote and go to school. As the sisters aged they began to grow sick and could barely maintain the typical life of being mothers. Even though they eventually died, their legacy never disappeared. They will forever be in memory as the abolitionist heros that helped free slaves being tortured by cruel white men. Even at the end of their life span, they were ready to fight anyone that threatened the right of any human being. They were phenomenal at everything they did and a blessing to everyone they touched. 

[1] Thomas Jefferson. Writings from Virginia notes, 1780[2] James Madison. Writings in Journal, 1819[3] John Adams. Writing in Journal, 1820[4] Dubuque Herald. Secession speech, 1860[5] History of Pennsylvania Hall which was Destroyed by a Mob on the 17th of May, 1838
Negro Universities Press, A Division of Greenwood Publishing Corp,
New York, 1969. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4h2939t.html [6] Sarah Grimke. “An epistle to the clergy of the southern states”, Harvard Library, 1836. https://iiif.lib.harvard.edu/manifests/view/drs:4049467$18i