Until the mid-1800s, women were stereotyped and did not have the same rights as men. Women were not allowed to vote, speak publicly, run for office, and had no influence in public affairs. They received poorer education than men and there was not a single church, except the Quakers, that allowed women to have a say in church affairs. Women also had no legal rights and were not allowed to own property. By and large, people believed that a woman only belonged in the home and that the only rule she could get was over her children. However, before the Civil War, women began to stand up for their beliefs and change the way people viewed society (Lerner, 1971). Two of the most famous pioneers of the women's rights movement, as well as abolition, were two sisters from South Carolina: Sarah and Angelina Grimké. The sisters were thirteen years apart; Sarah was the eldest. Sarah was born in 1792 and Angelina was born in 1805. They were born to John Fauchereau Grimké, a Revolutionary War colonel and Supreme Court justice. He married Mary Smith and the couple had fourteen children. The Grimké family was extremely wealthy. They enjoyed great luxury, owned hundreds of slaves, and had great influence over society (Birney, 1970). Sarah was the sixth child. From a young age, she demonstrated great independence and focused much of her efforts on justice. She was very intellectual and for this reason her father paid special attention to her compared to the other children. He is said to have frequently declared that “if she had been of the other sex, she would have made the greatest lawyer in the country” (Birney, 1970, p. 8). Sarah was also very friendly, empathetic and car...... middle of paper...... she was burned in 1867. In 1868, the Welds and Sarah served as officers of the Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association. Additionally, in 1870, Sarah and Angelina led a group of women to attempt to vote in a local election (VanBurkleo, 2000). Overall, Angelina and Sarah Grimké's contribution to the abolition and women's rights movements was essential to the tolerance of our country today. Despite coming from a family where they would never have to face problems related to their social status; Angelina and Sarah dedicated their lives to people less fortunate than themselves. They also paved the way for women to be equal to men, to have a voice and to be heard. The sisters risked their lives and reputations through their dedication and courage to promote what they believed was right and to ensure a future where all people were treated fairly..