Civil Rights Documents

Are people born free? Do governments give rights to citizens or do citizens give-up some rights in exchange for good government? These are stories about people seeking and achieving their civil rights.

In the case of the United States v Susan B. Anthony, a federal marshal was ordered to collect $204.41 from the Defendant Anthony to satisfy the judgme...

Image of the Court Clerk's report listing the witnesses in the case of the United States vs. Susan B. Anthony.

Page from the autobiography of Olaudah Equiano (also known as "Gustavus Vassa, The African"). One day the kidnapped boy, and other captive Africans, ...

John Randolph (1773-1833), from Virginia, opposed admitting Missouri as a "free" state not because he approved of slavery but because he disapproved o...

Image depicting the U.S. Supreme Court decision in the case of Plessy v. Ferguson, dated October, 1895. Click on the image for a better view.

The "Female Department," of the Mechanic's Advocate, expresses disaste for women who seek equal treatment and the right to vote: They [suffragists]...

Among other criticisms of women's rights in general, and the Declaration of Sentiments in particular, we read the following from the August 1, 1848 is...

After Elizabeth Packard began expressing her views on religious topics, in a Bible-study class held in her village of Manteno (Illinois), her husband ...

Elizabeth Packard's legal troubles began when she was asked to join a Bible-study class led by a deacon in her church.  Abijah Dole was unable t...

Elizabeth Packard wrote several books to financially support herself (since, under Illinois law, she no longer had the right to her dowry becase she w...

The first page of the Emancipation Proclamation.  Click on the image to examine it more closely.

The second page of the Emancipation Proclamation.  Click on the image to examine it more closely.

Show tooltips