Compare and contrast the experiences of African Americans with those of women between 1800 and 1865 - Essay Example

These consequent rebellions helped in making the United States country free of marginalization and slave trade. In an effort to combat these injustices, the slaves and women employed certain tactics to have their voices heard. Some of the women used conventions to bring other s of their kind together and enlighten them of their right and the need to rise for justice, the conventions involved declarations to overthrow men leadership and the chauvinism that was imposed on them. Most of these conventions were made by women who were wives to some of the influential men in the society.

African American slaves used both primary and secondary sources to reach out to their counterparts, the primary sources included writing of journals and holding conventional meetings, secondary sources were the use of maps and picture diagrams to educate others on how they would help fight for their rights. The activists also got help from some of their sympathizers in the government; the women on the other hand used legal ties to their husband to take advantage of the opportunity The Seneca Falls convention of 1848 was attended more than 200 women.

Its main aim was to liberalize the women in the United States, they complained of the unfulfilled promises that they had been given by the government at its formation in 1776. The convention stirred emotions amongst women in the women of Seneca Falls; it was followed by constant rebellion and conventions by women to shun the government (DBQ #10, Doc. #1). Then there was the Quaker convention of 1848 in the state of New York, it was organized by the women of New York to call for gender equality in the country, this, however, was denied by angry delegates who stormed and destroyed the meeting (Gerald, S, pp 23).

They made a venue where the women would air their sentiments, which would later be thrown away like those of the Seneca convention (DBQ #10, Doc. #3). Lastly, there was a convention at the Wesleyan chapel, it was attended by two hundred and sixty delegates and of them, and there were sixty men. Most of the resolutions that were brought forward were passed except one (DBQ #10, Doc. #4), which stated that women were not able to attend the fashionable cultural spheres of those times (Elizabeth, R, pp 5).

The slaves on the other hand used mostly primary sources to spread their information to their counterparts; they applied the use of documentations to arrange for meetings. Paul Cuffe, who was a slave who had bought his freedom, wrote a petition to the legislature of Massachusetts, citing his petitions as slaves not being allowed a share of the profits earned from their labor, in his petition he also complained about how slaves were not allowed to participate in the voting process (DBQ #9, Doc. #2). In 1794, Absalom Jones wrote to the slaves regarding the fugitive slave act of 1793, he urged the slaves to take it upon themselves to fight for their rights and not expect anyone else to handle their problems for themselves (DBQ #9, Doc. #3). In 1797 prince hall made a speech in Boston to remind the slaves how they were being mistreated by their employers, it was somewhat a wakeup call to the slaves to fight for their rights (DBQ #9, Doc. #4). This was followed by constant rebellion by the slaves in Boston (Lamont, D, PP 23).

The slaves also used secondary sources to communicate to the authorities and among themselves, such source included, pictures, thematic