This video features authors Bill Wasik and Monica Murphy discussing their book, Our Kindred Creatures, which explores the development of American attitudes toward animals from 1866 to 1896. The authors trace the rise of the animal welfare movement in the US, its connections to broader social reform movements, and the key figures who shaped its early development.
The Rise of the Animal Welfare Movement: The video highlights the emergence of the animal welfare movement in the US during the late 19th century, starting with the founding of the ASPCA in 1866. This period saw significant changes in how animals were regarded, both legally and socially.
Key Figures: The authors discuss the contributions of prominent figures such as Henry Bergh (founder of the ASPCA), Carolyn Earle White (founder of the Pennsylvania SPCA and the American Anti-Vivisection Society), and George Thorndike Angell (founder of the Massachusetts SPCA). Each individual's unique approach and impact on the movement is analyzed.
The Role of Romanticism and Religious Thought: The discussion explores the intellectual and spiritual underpinnings of the movement, linking it to the Romantic era's emphasis on individual suffering and compassion, and its influence on religious thought. The authors show how this perspective extended beyond human concerns to encompass animals.
Social Context and Animal Treatment: The video contrasts the growing concern for animal welfare with the rise of industrial-scale animal agriculture. The authors discuss the complexities of early animal welfare activism in a society heavily reliant on animal labor, while simultaneously creating conditions of mass animal suffering.
Public Awareness and Imagination: The presentation emphasizes the role of public awareness, particularly through publications like Our Dumb Animals, and the use of storytelling (e.g., Black Beauty) to cultivate empathy and imagination in the public's understanding of animal suffering.
The transcript indicates that many of the figures involved in the 19th-century animal welfare movement had connections to Unitarianism and Universalism. Specifically, Carolyn Earle White was raised in the First Unitarian Church in Philadelphia, and Henry Bergh, founder of the ASPCA, was associated with All Souls Church in Manhattan, with its minister also involved in the cause. P.T. Barnum, while initially congregationalist, later became a member of the first Universalist Church in Bridgeport and embraced universal salvation. The authors note the movement's connection to broader social reform movements and the Romantic era's emphasis on compassion, which influenced religious thought and, in turn, motivated Unitarian involvement in animal welfare.
