Dolley Madison was married to James Madison, the fourth President of the United States. Dolley was known for her kind heart and gracious hospitality. She was an intelligent woman who helped not only her husband, but also President Thomas Jefferson. Dolley was a woman with great courage. Her strong will and unique personality helped her become one of the most honored First Ladies in history.
Explore the extraordinary life of Frederick Douglass and his transition from slave to freed man. Born as a slave in 1818, Douglass endured many hardships, including being separated from his family when he was a young child. Throughout his life, Douglass struggled to become a freed man and risked his life to fight for equality for all people. He worked hard to become literate and eventually published his own autobiography. Douglass became friends with influential people, like President Lincoln, who helped Douglass work to achieve freedom for slaves. After the Civil War, Douglass continued to fight for the equality of women and immigrants. Today, Douglass is remembered as a famous orator, author, editor, and statesman who made America a better place for all people.
Hillary Clinton started her life as a little girl listening to her parents. They told her to work hard and help other people. Clinton did just that. She worked hard to graduate from college and then law school. She used her law degree to help children. She also helped her husband campaign for the presidency. When her husband was elected president of the United States, Clinton moved into the White House and became First Lady. But, she did not stop there. Clinton went on to become a New York Senator and then Secretary of State for President Obama.
For centuries, women’s work was limited to the home. There were strict limits on what they could do and who they could become. Those who tested the limits faced harsh criticism. But, these women dared to be different. By breaking rules, they also broke down barriers. Their courage paved the way for the women featured in this book to achieve their dreams.
Slavery in America began in 1619. It destroyed countless lives and led to a war that nearly tore the country in half. Slaves were counted as 3/5 of a person and were treated as pieces of property. Many brave Americans fought to abolish slavery and to provide equality for all people. Harriet Tubman became a conductor for the Underground Railroad and led 300 people to freedom. President Abraham Lincoln emancipated the slaves and reunited the country. In 1869, Congress passed the Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, guaranteeing all men the right to vote. Congress also created the Freedmen’s Bureau to help former slaves find food, shelter, schools, and hospitals. Despite the great changes made, racism and injustice continued to exist and African Americans fought for equality for many years after slavery was banned.
When the United States became a country, women had very few rights. Women could not own property or go to some colleges. Women were not allowed to vote. The fight to allow women to vote was called the Suffrage Movement. Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony were two leaders of the Suffrage Movement. They gave speeches and wrote articles about giving the right to vote to other people, especially women. Stanton and Anthony were close friends and made a great team. They organized groups, wrote petitions, gave speeches, and stood firm in the face of opposition. These two brave women paved the way for future suffragists and helped start the movement that would end with the Nineteenth Amendment and voting rights for women.
Brave women began to fight for equality early in America’s history. They wanted equal rights. They led by example and worked hard to change laws. Some of these women fought for America’s freedom and helped create the laws of the new nation. Women worked to end slavery. Female pioneers helped expand the boundaries of the nation. And other women changed lives with medical care. Women’s lives did not change overnight. One step at a time, American women moved closer to equality with men. This book is about the brave women who took those first steps toward change.
