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Womens Roles Then and Now

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Women’s Roles Then and Now
Rochelle Jones
September 2, 2012
Humanities 112
Dr. Dennis Bull
Strayer University

Abstract The subject matter I chose for this assignment is Women’s Roles Then and Now. The women I chose to research and write about are Harriet Beecher Stowe and Sojourner Truth. In this paper I will discuss the history of these women and their historical status. I will try to suggest the opinions that they might have had during their lifetime and I will address the issue of what these women might think about women today.

Harriet Beecher Stowe Harriet Beecher Stowe was the seventh child born to Lyman Beecher and Roxana on June 14, 1811. She was educated at Ma’am Kilbourn School, The Litchfield Academy and The Hartford Female Seminary. She married Calvin Ellis Stowe in January, 1836 who was a biblical scholar. She gave birth to seven children (Johnson-Lewis). Harriet Beecher Stowe was an abolitionist and an author. In 1852, she released the novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin. The work depicted the life of African American slaves. She based her writing on her won readings and personal observations. This novel led to energizing anti-slavery forces in the United States. Harriet Beecher Stow met President Abraham Lincoln in 1862 where he said, “So you are the little woman who wrote the book that started this Great War!” Harriet Beecher Stowe departed this life on July 1, 1896 (Bio True Story).
Sojourner Truth Sojourner Truth, born Isabella Baumfree was born in 1797. She was sold several times, and while owned by the Dumont family in Ulster County, married Thomas, another Durmont slave. She bore five children with Thomas. In 1927, New York law emancipated all slave but Isabella had already left her husband and ran away with her youngest child. She went to work for the Van Wagenen family. While working for that family she discovered that

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