Lucretia Mott
(1793-1880)
WHO SHE WAS:
Lucretia Mott was a pioneering advocate for women's rights and an ardent abolitionist. Her Quaker faith informed her strong beliefs in equality and nonviolence, and she became a central figure in the fight against slavery and for the enfranchisement of women. A gifted orator and strategist, Mott's activism helped initiate the first women's rights convention in Seneca Falls in 1848.
WHAT SHE SAID:
"Learning, while at school, that the preamble to our Constitution asserts liberty and justice as the inalienable right of every citizen, the inconsistency of this with the principles of slavery impressed my mind with such force that I was not satisfied until my voice was raised against it."
WHY SHE MATTERED:
Mott was not only significant for her role in the abolitionist movement but also as one of the early architects of the women's rights movement. Her home was a station on the Underground Railroad, and her advocacy efforts included universal suffrage and equal rights for all, regardless of race or gender. Her impact is felt in the numerous reforms and shifts in public perception regarding social justice issues.