Sarah and Angelina Grimké: Abolitionism and the Demands of Non-violence

• In Event: Nineteenth Century American Political Thought

Abstract

Sarah (1792-1873) and Angelina (1805-1879) Grimké were ardent abolitionists, proto-feminists, and devout Christians. These sisters argue that the only way to end slavery in the Southern United States was complete and immediate emancipation, conferral of full citizenship rights for formerly enslaved people, and equality regardless of race or sex. Their moral and religious beliefs included pacifism. They abhorred violence and war, even in pursuit of otherwise ethical ends. There is a deep and recurring tension in their work between their abolitionists goals and their belief in the moral correctness of nonviolent action. In this paper, we explore this tension between the Grimkés' pacifism and their abolitionism. By closely explaining their key writings, we show how they ultimately reconciled these conflicting demands, and came to support the necessity of war as a means of ending slavery.

Authors

• Kimberly Hurd Hale, Coastal Carolina University

• Erin A Dolgoy, Rhodes College