Equality Fight Quotes
There were no women’s shelters in the 19th century, and the police or sheriffs would not entertain a complaint from a wife for assault, sexual or otherwise. She compared the state of women to that of fugitive slaves a few decades earlier. Then there was the Underground Railroad and other institutions which would shelter and help the slaves. There was no such mechanism for women abused in their marriage.
There was extensive Northern opposition to the idea of Blacks fighting in the Civil War, even from some abolitionists who saw the war as a vehicle to end slavery. A few were concerned that Blacks would be executed by the South if they were captured, and hence would be exposed to unreasonable risk. Others, believed there was sufficient manpower and Blacks fighting would make the South fight harder. Many didn’t believe that Blacks were competent to be soldiers, and others didn’t want Blacks to develop the skills that would later enable them to compete for jobs with whites. Before Albion raising the 54th there were a few Negroes who were in Union uniform, but the concept of a Negro regiment was a much more visible, and controversial concept.
