The first movement against slavery began in 1791, and although in that distant time the preference and focus was always directed at men, there were women who fought for freedom.

Whether they were former slaves or not, their actions influenced the slave emancipation movement, and the world still reminds them to this day. For their heroism and always support for freedom.

Maria Stewart

Maria W. Stewart was born in 1803 to a black free family. But she lost both her parents at the age of 5, and was forced to work in the service of a white family for 10 years, and because she was not a slave, she left the family at the age of 15, and resigned her work and taught herself to read and write.

Maria got married in 1826 and lived with her husband in financial comfort until his death in 1829, and at that time she lost all the financial privileges, which brought her back to work in homes to support herself.

However, with the passage of time, Maria became more aware of the Christian religion, and from it she decided to focus on emancipating slaves because it was inhuman. By 1831, forming groups calling for an end to slavery, Maria joined them, becoming one of the most important members in her ability to write and draft.

She was the first American woman to deliver enthusiastic speeches in public, at a time when the role of the woman was completely marginalized, whether she was white or black, and therefore she was met with severe attack on her daring in this way, even from those who were supportive of the cause.

Maria left her city and worked as a teacher for a while, while continuing to protest the conditions of people of African descent, and in 1861 she established a school for children fleeing slavery during the war, and she continued her struggle for everyone to have their freedom and equal rights. Maria gave many lectures and published some books. She died in 1879 a few days after her last book was published.

Francis Eileen Watkins Harper

Frances Ellen Watkins Harper was born in 1825 into a free black family. But at the age of 3, her parents died, so her relatives raised her, and her uncle was active in the anti-slavery movement, so she learned reading and writing with his hand, and she studied in his school that he established for people of African origins.

At the age of 13, she had to search for work, so she worked as an assistant for a white family that owned a bookstore. There, "Francis" used all her free time to read books, as the family that owned the store allowed her to do so, and at the age of 21 she wrote her first poem. After that I left the store and moved to another city where I worked as a teacher; But while she was there, city laws changed, and she was suddenly threatened with arrest and selling to slave traders.

Unable to return to her family, "Francis" decided to devote all her efforts to fighting slavery, and with the help of her uncle's friends she began writing for newspapers against slavery, and after that, "Francis" became one of the most important female writers in the United States, and a spokeswoman for human rights, especially black people and women. That was until her death in 1911.

Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman was born into slavery, so her exact date of birth is unknown, but it is most likely between 1820 and 1825. "Harriet" since her childhood suffered from torture of all kinds, this torture caused permanent marks on her body, as a result of which she suffered from seizures and severe migraine; But all this did not stop her from her constant attempts to support the slaves she encountered on her way who needed help.

Harriet decided in 1849 to escape from slavery with her two brothers, who decided to return voluntarily when the landlord announced a cash prize for those who would return them; However, this did not stop "Harriet", who continued her path to freedom, and upon reaching a safe city without slaves, decided to return again to its former owners; But to save her family and friends, and already through nearly 20 trips, "Harriet" was able to free more than 300 slaves and guide them to freedom.

Harriet believed in armed struggle, so when the American Civil War broke out, she participated in it as a soldier with arms, becoming the first leader of an armed group, and participated in the liberation of more than 700 people from slavery.

Harriet’s struggle continued even after the abolition of slavery under the US Constitution, to share calls to give women the right to vote in elections. After her death in 1913, Harriet Tubman became a symbol of freedom.

Sojourner Truth

Sojourner Truth was born into slavery around 1797. I served with more than one family, and moved 4 times, where they were subjected to various types of oppression and torture. She married a slave and gave birth to 5 children.

By the year 1827, she escaped from slavery with her young daughter as a refugee for one of the families calling for the emancipation of slaves. Indeed, they bought the girl her freedom from her royal family, and they were able to save her 5-year-old son from slavery.

Sojourner left the city and moved to New York City, where she converted to Christianity and became a religious spokesperson. At that time, she was met by some representatives of anti-slavery organizations, who persuaded her to use her religious popularity to urge an end to slavery in the country.

Sojourner decided to hire someone to write her life story. Because she was illiterate, and thanks to this book, she gained some fame, and that representatives of women's rights organizations decided to exploit her. Indeed, Sojourner began raising awareness of women's rights as well.

Sojourner continued to deliver her sermons with her constant help in freeing the slaves she could free, and she had a prominent role in the civil war, as she urged men to join the Federal Army, and after the war she helped slaves who finally gained their freedom to find work and build a new, free life. And until her last days, she tried to obtain more rights for former slaves and change the American Constitution in their favor.