Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society facts for kids
The Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society was a group of women in Boston, Massachusetts. They worked to end slavery in America from 1833 to 1840. This group was special because it included both Black and white women. During its time, the Society held big meetings for women across the country. They also asked many people to sign petitions against slavery. They even went to court to help enslaved people become free. The Society also held fun events to raise money for their important cause.
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What They Believed
The women who started the Society believed slavery was very wrong. They felt it went against God's rules. They also thought slavery caused a lot of sadness and crime. They were sure that slavery needed to end right away.
The Society wanted to help end slavery as much as they could. They used their money to share the truth about slavery. They also worked to help improve the lives of Black people. This group worked on its own, separate from bigger state or national groups.
At first, members of the Society felt many people didn't care enough about slavery. But they decided they could not stay quiet. They felt a new light of truth had opened their eyes. This made them want to work hard to end slavery. The start of this Society showed how much women in Boston wanted to fight against slavery.
How They Fought Slavery
A Mob and a Brave Editor
On October 21, 1835, the Society announced that George Thompson, a British anti-slavery speaker, would visit. People who supported slavery offered a $100 reward to anyone who would hurt him. Mr. Thompson canceled his talk at the last minute.
Instead, William Lloyd Garrison, who wrote for an anti-slavery newspaper called The Liberator, agreed to speak. An angry mob formed outside the hall. Mr. Garrison had to escape through the back. He hid in a carpenter's shop. But the mob soon found him. Several strong men, including the mayor, helped him. They took him to the safest place in Boston, the Leverett Street Jail.
Fighting for Freedom in Court
In 1836, the Society helped with a famous court case. It was called Commonwealth v. Aves. This case was about a young enslaved girl named Med. Her owner had brought her to Boston from New Orleans for a trip. The Society and others went to court to ask for Med's freedom.
The court decided that Med should be free. She became a "ward of the court," meaning the court would protect her. This decision made many people in the South very angry. It made things more tense between the North and South. This case was important because it was the first time an enslaved person was freed just by being brought to a free state.
Raising Money and Spreading the Word
The Society held many "anti-slavery fairs." At these fairs, women would sew or embroider items with anti-slavery messages. Then, they would sell these items to raise money for their group. The Boston Fair was the biggest one. It inspired other women's anti-slavery groups to hold their own fairs. For example, the Fall River Female Anti-Slavery Society also sold items at the Boston fair and in their own town.
Members of the Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society also went to the Anti-Slavery Convention of American Women. This meeting brought together women from many anti-slavery groups. They talked about the rights of African-American women. Mary S. Parker from the Boston group was often chosen as the president of these meetings. Martha V. Ball, an African-American member, was also chosen as one of the secretaries.
The End of the Society
After a few years, the Society started to have disagreements among its members. In just seven years, the Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society became very well known. But then, it broke apart due to arguments and sadness.
