Lucretia Mott

Lucretia and James Mott

AntiSlaverySocietyMarker

1851 photograph of Philadelphia abolitionists, Pennsylvania Abolition Society fonded april 14th 1775

Women's Rights National Historical Park (59224744-0421-4f77-86b9-61d3c6c8de85)

Lucretia Mott, lecturer, woman suffragist - DPLA - 6528dc9bdb79f6e2cfbc95b39a197fd6 (page 1)

Lucretia Mott (January 3, 1793 – November 11, 1880) was a pioneering Quaker preacher, abolitionist, women's rights activist, and social reformer. She is credited as one of the instigators of the early women's suffrage movement in the United States and played a significant role in the anti-slavery movement. Her efforts were instrumental in shaping the discourse around civil rights and gender equality in the 19th century.

Early Life

Lucretia Mott was born Lucretia Coffin in Nantucket, Massachusetts, to a Quaker family. Her upbringing in the Quaker faith deeply influenced her beliefs in equality, pacifism, and the importance of social action. Mott attended the Nine Partners School in New York, where she was exposed to the idea of equal education for women. This experience sparked her lifelong advocacy for women's rights and education.

Abolitionist Movement

Mott's involvement in the abolitionist movement began in the early 1830s when she and her husband, James Mott, joined the American Anti-Slavery Society. Her activism was not without controversy; she faced significant opposition, including violent mobs and social ostracization. Despite this, Mott remained a prominent figure in the abolitionist community, organizing events and speaking against slavery alongside other notable figures such as Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison.

Women's Rights Advocacy

Lucretia Mott is perhaps best remembered for her role in the women's suffrage movement. In 1848, she co-organized the Seneca Falls Convention, the first women's rights convention in the United States, alongside Elizabeth Cady Stanton. The convention marked a pivotal moment in the women's suffrage movement, leading to the drafting of the Declaration of Sentiments, which called for equal civil rights for women, including the right to vote.

Later Life and Legacy

Throughout her later years, Mott continued to advocate for social reform, including the abolition of slavery, women's suffrage, and temperance. She died in 1880, leaving behind a legacy of activism and social change. Today, Lucretia Mott is remembered as a foundational figure in the fight for gender equality and civil rights.

See Also

• Seneca Falls Convention
• American Anti-Slavery Society
• Women's suffrage in the United States