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Black Abolitionists' Activism in Lowell
Document 20b: “Constitution of the Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society,” 1834
Document 20b: “Constitution of the Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society,” 1834
The Lowell Female Anti-Slavery Society originally formed in 1835 after George Thompson’s visit to Lowell (see Document 25). In March 1843, John Levy worked with Maria Chapman (Boston) and Sarah Clay (Lowell) to reestablish the Lowell Woman’s Anti-Slavery Society and organize antislavery fairs held in Lowell’s City Hall.
Below is the Constitution of the Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society that Foster requested from Chapman, which was used in the formation of the Lowell Society. The Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society’s membership consisted of Black and white women, representing multiple religious denominations, from many of the city’s most prominent families.
Vocabulary
Vocabulary
Preamble: An introductory statement
Emancipation: The fact or process of being set free from legal, social, or political restrictions; the freeing of someone from slavery
Dissemination: The action of scattering or spreading, dispersion
Transcript
Transcript
PREAMBLE. Believing slavery to be a direct violation of the laws of God, and productive of a vast amount of misery and crime; and convinced that its abolition can only be effected by an acknowledgement of the justice and necessity of immediate emancipation, — We hereby agree to form ourselves into a Society to aid and assist in this righteous cause as far as lies within our power.
Article 1st. This Society shall be called, The Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society.
Art. 2d. Any lady may become a member of this Society, by subscribing to the sentiments contained in the Preamble, and paying fifty cents annually. Any lady paying five dollars at entrance will be considered a life member.
Art. 3d. Its funds shall be appropriated to the dissemination of TRUTH on the subject of Slavery, and the improvement of the moral and intellectual character of the colored population. The opinions of the members, as to the best means of effecting these purposes, will be freely given at the meetings. Questions relative to the business of the Society may be decided by a vote of two thirds of the members present, or such decisions may be transferred by them to the Board of Officers.
Text-Dependent Questions
Text-Dependent Questions
What does the author mean by the “improvement of the moral and intellectual character of the colored population”? Who is setting the standards for moral and intellectual character?
Discussion Questions
Discussion Questions
Whose “truth” about slavery does the 3rd article refer to?
Learn more about Black women in Boston’s antislavery movement by visiting Boston African American National Historic Site’s website.
Citation"Constitution of the Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society," 1834.Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/resource/rbpe.05600700/?st=gallery
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