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Choosing Enslavement in Texas

Choosing Enslavement in Texas Document Text Summary De white folks said dat de free niggers was ruinin’ de other slaves. Mammy was called a free woman by her master. Mawster Jack Hamilton brought her to Texas f’om Randolph County, Alabama, Dey come to Texas in 1847. Little befo’ de beginnin’ ob de Civil War mammy left de Hamilton place, and hired out to other white folks. Mawster Jack said dat he wouldn’t hold no claim gainst her ‘cause he didn’t believe in slavery. But befo’ mammy left Mawster Jacks’s place I was bawn in a box cabin near de big house. White people thought that the existence of free Black people made enslaved people think they should be free. My mom’s enslaver considered her free. He brought her to Texas from Alabama in 1847. Before the Civil

2024-01-23T13:27:51-05:00
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Claiming Freedom in Minnesota

Claiming Freedom in Minnesota “The  Minneapolis Slave Case,” St. Cloud Democrat, September 6, 1860, pg 1. Minnesota Historical Society. Document Text Summary The Minneapolis “Slave” Case. The Democrats have been as unfortunate in their attempt to make capital out of the case of Eliza Wonston as they were in that of Henry Sparks. After all their charges that Eliza was Persuaded to leave her master by “Abolitionists;” after the dirt-eaters of St. Anthony and Minneapolis, headed by McLean of the Winslow House, had offered indignities and threatened violence to the person of Mr. Babbitt and others, it turned out that Eliza, when she left Mississippi, was fully determined to assert her freedom as soon as she reached the free soil of Minnesota.

2024-03-14T13:29:15-04:00
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The Poetry of Jane Johnston Schoolcraft

The Poetry of Jane Johnston Schoolcraft Lines Written at Castle Island, Lake Superior Here in my native inland sea From pain and sickness would I flee And from its shores and island bright Gather a store of sweet delight. Lone island of the saltless sea! How wide, how sweet, how fresh and free How all transporting —is the view Of rocks and skies and waters blue Uniting, as a song’s sweet strains To tell, here nature only reigns. Ah, nature! here forever sway Far from the haunts of men away For here, there are no sordid fears, No crimes, no misery, no tears No pride of wealth; the heart to fill, No laws to try my people ill. Jane Johnston Schoolcraft, “Lines Written at Castle Island, Lake Superior,” 1838. Jane Johnston

2023-04-04T09:10:30-04:00
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Suffrage in Wyoming

Suffrage in Wyoming "Women Suffrage in Wyoming Territory" "Women Suffrage in Wyoming Territory.-- Scene at the Polls in Cheyenne," Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, 1888. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. Document Text Summary AN ACT TO GRANT TO THE WOMEN OF WYOMING TERRITORY THE RIGHT OF SUFFRAGE AND TO HOLD OFFICE A law to grant Wyoming women the right to vote and hold political office Be it enacted by the Council and House of Representatives of the Territory of Wyoming: The Council and House of Representatives of the Territory of Wyoming is passing the following law: Sec. 1. That every woman of the age of twenty-oen years, residing in this territory, may, at every election to be holden under the laws thereof, cast her vote. And

2023-04-04T09:10:02-04:00
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Sex Trafficking

Sex Trafficking “The Man Filled Both My Hands With Gold and I Then Became His Slave” “The Man Filled Both My Hands With Gold and I Then Became His Slave,” The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]), 02 April 1899. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Library of Congress. Sex work in the American West has been romanticized in popular culture. But the reality was often much bleaker. For example, the arrival of thousands of single Chinese men during the California Gold Rush created a huge demand for Chinese sex workers. But the Chinese women and girls brought to the U.S. to fulfill this demand often had little choice in the matter. Some were kidnapped. Some were sold by their impoverished families. Some

2024-03-14T13:23:20-04:00
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U.S. v. Virginia

U.S. v. Virginia Document Text Summary VMI BOARD VOTES TO ADMIT WOMEN BUT SCHOOL WON'T CHANGE, OFFICIALS SAY In the end, six years of litigation came down to one vote. The potential obstacles - especially more lawsuits and the need for hundreds of millions of dollars - proved too much for those who fervently hoped to take Virginia Military Institute private and keep it all-male. In a 9-8 vote Saturday, the VMI Board of Visitors agreed to admit women in the fall of 1997. After six years of lawsuits, this case was decided by one vote. The leadership of VMI voted to allow women to attend the school. But VMI officials said that is just about all that will change. "Female cadets will be treated precisely as we treat male cadets," VMI Superintendent Josiah Bunting III said.

2024-01-29T09:57:39-05:00
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Commandments to California Wives

Commandments to California Wives James Hutchings and W.C. Butler, “Commandments to California Wives,” before 1855. Prints and Ephemera, Huntington Digital Library. Document Text Summary Now it came to pass that as thy servant sat alone and at night watching the dying embers of his cabin fire, behold the latch of his cabin door was softly lifted, and before him stood - an angel! Clothed in female apparel. As in duty bound, I immediately arose from my only stool, and invited her to be seated: this she gracefully declined; but, placing her white and beautiful fingers upon the bosom of my woolen shirt, in a voice of musical distinctness she thus addressed me, “Young man, hast thou courage?” I was almost speechless, for I felt what little I possessed

2022-12-06T10:37:58-05:00
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Government Aid for Families

Government Aid for Families “Why Every Woman in America Should Beware of Welfare Cuts” Advertisement “Why Every Woman in America Should Beware of Welfare Cuts,” The New York Times, August 8, 1995. Document Text Why every woman in America should beware of welfare cuts. Welfare is the ultimate security policy for every woman in America. Like accident or life insurance, you hope you’ll never need it. But for yourself and your family, sisters, daughters and friends, you need to know it’s there. Without it, we have no real escape from brutal relationships or any protection in a job market hostile to women with children. Why is Congress trying to take it away? Imagine the worst. You’re laid off from your job. You lose your health insurance. Your marriage falls

2024-03-13T14:11:19-04:00
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