CIVIL WAR UNIT 2 PRIMARY SOURCE PROJECT
To complete this project, read Sojourner Truth's address to the Ohio Women's Convention and answer the questions below.
Sojourner Truth, "Ain't I a woman?"
In the lead up to the American Civil War, there weren't just stirrings about slave rights and abolition, but women's rights as well. The quest for women's rights dates back to the founding of our nation, and even Abigail Adams told her dear husband in 1776 to "remember the ladies" who had taken an active role in assisting and supporting the revolution. During the pre-civil war years, women's rights took a back seat to the loud calls for abolition and war preparations. Sojourner Truth, speaking at the 1851 Women's Convention in Ohio was an active supporter not only of the free-slave movement, but also the women's rights movement and her address to the convention is below.
May I say a few words? I want to say a few words about this matter. I am a woman’s rights. I have as much muscle as any man, and can do as much work as any man. I have plowed and reaped and husked and chopped and mowed, and can any man do more than that?
I have heard much about the sexes being equal; I can carry as much as any man, and can eat as much too, if I can get it. I am as strong as any man that is now.
As for intellect, all I can say is, if women have a pint and man a quart - why can’t she have her little pint full? You need not be afraid to give us our rights for fear we will take too much, for we cant take more than our pint’ll hold.
The poor men seem to be all in confusion, and don't know what to do. Why children, if you have woman’s rights, give it to her and you will feel better. You will have your own rights, and they wont be so much trouble.
I cant read, but I can hear. I have heard the bible and have learned that Eve caused man to sin. Well if woman upset the world, do give her a chance to set it right side up again.
The Lady has spoken about Jesus, how he never spurned woman from him, and she was right. When Lazarus died, Mary and Martha came to him with faith and love and besought him to raise their brother. And Jesus wept - and Lazarus came forth.
And how came Jesus into the world?Through God who created him and woman who bore him. Man, where is your part?
But the women are coming up blessed be God and a few of the men are coming up with them. But man is in a tight place, the poor slave is on him, woman is coming on him, and he is surely between-a hawk and a buzzard.
1. What does Truth mean when she says that "man is in a tight place"? What 'man' is she implying is in a tight place?
2. Do you disagree with Truth when she says that giving women their own rights won't take away from men's rights? EXPLAIN.
3. Why does Truth use biblical women in her arguments? Do you find Truth's argument about Christ's parentage compelling? EXPLAIN.
4. Who is Truth alluding to in her final paragraph? What does this imply about her perspectives on women?
5. What does it mean to be between a hawk and a buzzard? Do you think this was an effective way to end her speech? Why or why not?
6. Look at THIS COMPARISON between what was recorded when Truth gave her speech and what was published later. What differences do you see? (list 3)
7. Why do you think the speech was changed?
Each question must be a paragraph and cite evidence from the text.
Please help me I Don't understand this at all.