And the Spirit Moved Them: The Lost Radical History of America's First Feminists

Hunt (Faith and Feminism) argues that the women's rights movement did not start at Seneca Falls, NY, in 1848, but rather at the Anti-Slavery Convention of American Women in 1837. Although the goal of the convention was to end slavery, the organizers put together a plan that would eventually be built upon for later women's rights initiatives. At the time of the convention, women were discouraged from publicly sharing their political views, but Hunt shows how attendees overcame ingrained societal norms and opposition from both outside and within the movement. An additional concern was race relations, since the event encouraged both blacks and whites to take part. Prominent figures in the movement are briefly profiled, including Lucretia Mott, Angelina Grimké, Sarah Grimké, and Abby Kelley, among others. The primary focus is the inclusive spirit of the conventions and the deep religious faith of the participants, which moved them to action. Finally, Hunt outlines practices from the early days of women's movements to modern protest organizers.