From infancy, I had been accustomed to hear pro and con discussions of slavery and the American Civil War. Although the British government finally decided not to recognise the Confederacy, public opinion in England was sharply divided on the questions both of slavery and of secession.

In this passage, Emmeline Pankhurst reflects on her early exposure to debates about slavery and the American Civil War. She describes a household environment where discussions were frequent and varied, ranging from whether Britain should recognize the Confederacy to the moral and political dimensions of slavery and secession. This context reveals how young she was when she began absorbing these complex historical and ethical issues.

The quote delves deeper into the nuanced dynamics of public opinion during a critical period in history. Pankhurst highlights the conflicting views among British citizens regarding their government’s stance on recognizing the Confederacy, despite official decisions not to do so. This illustrates the gap between governmental policy and public sentiment, indicating that people often have strong personal beliefs even when those beliefs are not officially sanctioned by their leaders or laws. Additionally, her observation about debates around slavery points to broader societal divisions, suggesting that issues of human rights and morality can deeply divide communities despite official policies.

Emmeline Pankhurst was a prominent British political activist who is best known for her role in the women's suffrage movement. Her experiences growing up with discussions on complex social and political topics such as those surrounding slavery and the American Civil War likely shaped her understanding of justice, equality, and the importance of advocating for change.