Sojourner_Truth_ssp[2]-Sean Plunkett

Presented By: Sean Plunkett Period 7 : 

Presented By: Sean Plunkett Period 7 Sojourner Truth

Early Background : 

Early Background Born in Ulster County, NY, 1797 with the name Isabella She was one of 13 children born to Elizabeth and James Baumfree who were slaves on the Hardenbergh plantation She was first sold around age 9 along with a herd of sheep Her owners wife and family only spoke English and beat her fiercely for frequent miscommunications

Love/Family Life : 

Love/Family Life She fell in love with a fellow slave named Robert around 1815 but his owner forbid the relationship because he did not want his slave having chilren with a slave did not own (not his property). One night Robert visited Isabella, but was followed by his owner and son, who beat him savagely ("bruising and mangling his head and face"), bound him and dragged him away. Robert never returned. Isabella had a daughter shortly thereafter, named Diana. In 1817, forced to submit to the will of her owner Dumont, married an older slave named Thomas. They had four children: Peter (1822), James (who died young), Elizabeth (1825), and Sophia (1826).

End of Slave Labor : 

End of Slave Labor The state of New York began in 1799 to legislate the gradual abolition of slaves, which was to happen July 4, 1827 Dumont had promised Isabella freedom a year before the state emancipation, "if she would do well and be faithful." However, he went back on his promise, claiming a hand injury had made her less productive. She continued working until she felt she had done enough to satisfy her sense of obligation to him -- spinning 100 pounds of wool -- then escaped before dawn with her daughter, Sophia “I did not run off, for I thought that wicked, but I walked off, believing that to be all right.”

Life post-Slavery : 

Life post-Slavery Isabella wandered and prayed for direction. She arrived at the home of Isaac and Maria Van Wagenen Dumont arrived, insisting she come back and threatening to take her baby when she refused. Isaac offered to buy her services for the remainder of the year (until the state's emancipation took effect), which Dumont accepted for $20 Isaac and Maria insisted Isabella not call them "master" and "mistress," but rather by their given names

Preaching Life : 

Preaching Life During her time with the Van Wagenens, Isabella had a life-changing religious experience becoming "overwhelmed with the greatness of the Divine presence" and inspired to preach She settled in New York City, but she had lost what savings and possessions she had had She resolved to leave and make her way as a traveling preacher. On June 1, 1843, she changed her name to Sojourner Truth

Contributions to Civil Rights : 

Contributions to Civil Rights During the Civil War, she spoke on the Union's behalf, as well as for enlisting black troops for the cause and freeing slaves In 1864, she worked among freed slaves at a government refugee camp on an island in Virginia and was employed by the National Freedman's Relief Association in Washington, D.C. She also met President Abraham Lincoln in October In 1870, she began campaigning for the federal government to provide former slaves with land in the new west

Legacy : 

Legacy She died on November 26, 1883, at 86 years old. She was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery next to her grandson. Sojourner's house as it appears today

Bibliography : 

Bibliography Who was Sojourner Truth? 3 1 2010 <http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.sojournertruthmemorial.org/sojourner_images/Plaque1.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.sojournertruthmemorial.org/history.html&usg=__QRSOhMSvdYvgytuqGzr97-nmUK4=&h=387&w=411&sz=34&hl=en&start=70&um=1&tbnid=_DrIvtPKi>.