Lucretia Mott's Heresy: Abolition and Women's Rights in Nineteenth-Century America

"Lucretia Mott's Heresy: Abolition and Women's Rights in Nineteenth-Century America" uncovers the riveting narrative of Lucretia Mott, a figure once at the forefront of the nineteenth-century movements for racial and gender equality. Historian Carol Faulkner skillfully brings Mott's story to life, portraying her not just as the gentle Quaker lady history often remembers but as a vehement challenger of societal norms and authority. Mott's activism extended beyond her Quaker faith, drawing from her New England roots and leading her to advocate fiercely for a range of causes including slavery abolition, women's rights, peace, temperance, prison reform, religious freedom, and Native American rights. Published on June 7, 2011, this biography is a compelling exploration for middle-school readers, revealing how Mott's beliefs intersected with the broader social justice domains of gender equality, racial justice, religious freedom, and indigenous rights. Through Mott's story, readers are invited to reflect on how one individual's relentless pursuit of justice can challenge and change societal norms.