(1792–1873 and 1805–79, respectively). Born to Southern slaveholders, the Grimké sisters fought to end slavery in the United States. Some men disagreed with the Grimkés' work as reformers, so the sisters also fought for women's rights.

Early lives

Both Sarah and Angelina Grimké were born in Charleston, South Carolina. Sarah was born on November 26, 1792. Angelina was born on February 20, 1805. The Grimké family owned slaves, as did most wealthy families in the South. The sisters did not approve of slavery, however.

In 1821 Sarah moved north to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Angelina followed in 1829. The sisters joined the Quakers, a religious group. The Quakers opposed slavery.

Career

The Grimké sisters became part of the abolitionist movement, which worked to end slavery in the United States. Both Sarah and Angelina wrote many letters and articles against slavery. They asked Southern women to speak out against slavery. They also asked Southern church leaders to teach people that slavery was wrong.

The Grimkés' writings brought a lot of negative and positive attention to the sisters. Officials in Charleston were so upset that they warned the sisters not to return home. On the other hand, the American Anti-Slavery Society asked the sisters to talk to groups of women about ending slavery. Sarah and Angelina began speaking to women in private homes. They soon were lecturing to larger audiences of women and men.

Through their lectures the Grimké sisters became part of the women's rights movement. Some men did not think that women should speak out in public. The Grimké sisters disagreed. They continued their lectures despite the opposition. In 1838 Angelina even spoke out against slavery before the Massachusetts legislature.

Angelina married Theodore Dwight Weld, an abolitionist, in 1838. The marriage did not stop the sisters from working together. The Grimkés and Weld together wrote the book Slavery As It Is: Testimony of a Thousand Witnesses, which was published in 1839. The sisters also continued working for women's rights.

Later years

The Grimké sisters witnessed the end of the Civil War and the end of slavery. Sarah died on December 23, 1873, in Hyde Park, Massachusetts. Angelina died on October 26, 1879, also in Hyde Park.