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The Abolition Movement

Explore the history of the abolition movement in the US, from challenges faced by early anti-slavery activists to the rise of influential figures like Frederick Douglass and the American Anti-Slavery Society.

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The Abolition Movement

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  1. The Abolition Movement

  2. Slavery and Equality • Republicanism based on the equality of men • “We came equals into this world, and equals shall we go out of it. All men are by nature born equally free and independent.” – George Mason • Historically (in England) slaves and the poor not considered part of this equality • Ideal citizen of a republic = landowner who had a stake in the system

  3. Slavery and Equality (2) • Greatest threat to Republicanism = the poor (few in America) • If enslaved freed they would become a poor class = threat to future of the U.S. (in the minds of the Framers) • In South, fear more immediate • Slaveholder Landon Carter: “If you free the slaves, you must send them out of the country or they must steal for their support.” • Thomas Jefferson agreed, believed if slaves freed, they must be exiled (assimilation not possible)

  4. Slavery and Equality (3) • Still, revolutionary war changed attitudes • Many colonies/states ban slave trade • Virginia legalizes manumission (freeing slaves) in 1782 (10,000 freed by 1790) • Many in South hope for end of slavery • Northern states begin to prohibit slavery • No slaves in Massachusetts by 1790

  5. Early Abolitionism • ‘Abolitionists’ advocated the end of slavery • American Colonization Society (ACS) founded in Virginia in 1817 • Called for gradual emancipation • Slaveholders to be compensated • Freed slaves to be taken to Africa • Liberia founded 1830 (2.5% Americo-Liberian today) • ACS fades away • Refusal of freed slaves to leave, scope of slavery, increased profits from cotton

  6. The Growth of Abolitionism • Two factors led to growth of abolition movement in North in 1820s and 1830s • Agitation of black abolitionists and signs of black unrest in the South inspired white abolitionists • The Second Great Awakening (starts 1801) inspired a reform spirit in the North • Revivalists argued that America was in need of moral regeneration by dedicated Christians, many see slavery as sin

  7. Abolitionists • William Lloyd Garrison • White abolitionist journalist • Began publishing The Liberator in 1831 • Helped to form the American Anti-Slavery Society • Rejected “gradualism”

  8. American Anti-Slavery Society • Efforts • Sent speakers around the country • Sent petitions to Congress • Sent abolitionist propaganda to the South • Reaction • Angry white mobs opposed changes in race relations • Southern postmasters refused to deliver antislavery literature • In 1835 President Andrew Jackson unsuccessfully petitioned Congress to ban the mailing of abolitionist pamphlets

  9. Frederick Douglass • Escaped from slavery in 1838 • Author (Narrative published 1845) • Newspaper publisher (North Star) 1847 • Worked closely with radicals, particularly with the Underground Railroad • Helped about 1,000 slaves every year escape to the North • Raised awareness of conditions for slaves

  10. Video Questions • How is the North dependent on slavery? • Where did Harriet Jacobs live rather than stay enslaved? How long did she live there? • What connection did free African Americans have to slavery? • Who was David Walker? Why is he a significant figure in the Abolition movement? • How do Bostonians react to Garrison? • Some argued that abolishing slavery would hurt the U.S. Describe the argument. • How does slavery impact white children, according to the film? • What difficulties did African Americans face when they moved North? • How did slave fugitives impact the abolitionist movement? • How did the Abolitionists connect back to the Revolution?

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