Historical Perspective
Havelock Ellis
Margaret Sanger’s views and thoughts shaped her actions which led to birth control being a necessity and legal. Her father, Michael Hennessy Higgins, had a huge influence on her. He was an Atheist, and was also an activist of women’s suffrage and free public education. Along with her father Margaret was also influenced by her Mother as well. Her mother has died after her 18 pregnancies. Sadly Margaret was the only child out of 11 that had survived. She has believed that if her mother had been pregnant fewer times then she could have taken care of the family and not died. Psychologist Havelock Ellis and her parents are the people that influences and shaped her thought/believes that later defined her actions. Along the way Sanger accused Christian leaders who were against her ideas because she was an Atheist. No one knew about birth control and/or contraceptives before Margaret made it her goal to make as many women possible be aware of these two things. She did this by giving speeches in front of the women of KKK. Margaret also promoted through books, articles, columns, and by raising awareness directly to the person.
Historical Context
A picture to symbolize the extermination of black members of the society.
During Margaret Sangers life time there as more going on other then just promotion of birth control. There were not many woman rights until Aug. 26th, 1920. Being a woman herself she made sure that every woman knew about the other alternatives they had. The growth of local groups was growing and they were taking action into their own hands. Lynching victims mostly African American with a trial was one of the things they took under there power. KKK was spreading it was a very heavily populated group in New York. World war made her realize that woman who were left alone with children, were not able to take care of all the kids by themselves and this is where her idea came in to reducing the number of kids. Federal laws were passed earlier to stop the promotion but now there were laws passed to make it legal.
"The mass of ignorant Negroes still breed carelessly and disastrously, so that the increase among Negroes, even more than the increase among whites, is from that portion of the population least intelligent and fit, and least able to rear their children properly" (Margaret Sanger)
"The mass of ignorant Negroes still breed carelessly and disastrously, so that the increase among Negroes, even more than the increase among whites, is from that portion of the population least intelligent and fit, and least able to rear their children properly" (Margaret Sanger)
