Page 30 - Confronting Race Women and Indians on the Frontier, 1815 - 1915

C H APTER ONE

them to exercise "those peculiar talents and virtues" that were "resplen­
dent" in the female character. In 1848, the Ladies Repository encouraged
young women to become missionaries, thus realizing in their own lives
"all that is lovely in woman's character, or sanctified and ennobling in
woman's high ambition."4 0
Closer to home, women exercised their religious virtues by becom­
ing Sunday-school teachers. Because female morality earmarked women
as obvious teachers of religious tenets, many a young lady came to
include a Sunday-school class among her other good deeds. In 1846,
Hale expressed satisfaction with women's progress in religious endeav­
ors, claiming that the United States owed "much of her glory " to women
who supported the "cause of Christian mission, Sabbath schools, and
charities of every kind."4! In 1855, the domestic novelist Marion Harland
added her stamp of approval in Alone, whose heroine found the Sabbath
a "season of delight" because of the "band of little girls" who eagerly
awaited her teachings. 42
Of all the reform movements in which women participated during
the mid-nineteenth century, abolitionism attracted the greatest number
of women. In 1836, reformer Angelina Grimke pointed out that
although women could not make laws against slavery, they could read,
pray, talk, and even act on the subject. Grimke explained that women
could speak to relatives, friends, and acquaintances, at the same time edu­
cating or even freeing slaves they owned or controlled as a result of
prenuptial agreements. In the same year, Elizabeth Chandler appealed
to women to boycott slave-made goods and to form protest groups. In
1860, Lydia Maria Child, author of several abolitionist tracts, declared
that even though male legislators had the final decision, women could
help create public opinion supporting abolitionism.43
Writer Harriet Beecher Stowe, best-known for her antislavery
novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin, offered specific suggestions to women inter­
ested in the abolitionist movement. Stowe urged American women to
learn about the subject and to commit themselves to wielding their
influence against slavery. Next, women could spread information upon
this vital topic through their neighborhoods, financially support lectur­
ers, circulate abolitionist speeches given by members of Congress, and
obtain signatures on petitions to Congress. 44 Although these tasks would

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