Chapter 15.2pgs. 350-354

How did the antislavery movement develop?

Early Efforts Against Slavery

Few colonists opposed slavery but the real movement didn’t start until after the Revolutionary War.

By the 1790’s there were several antislavery societies

An Abolitionist is what?

Early Efforts

Abolition – The movement to end slavery, really began in late 1700’s

1800’s – Abolitionist views begin to spread especially in the North

Believed it was wrong to own another person

Believed slavery should be abolished for different reasons

Beliefs for ending Slavery

Religious reasons – Since colonial days Quakers were against slavery.

First public protest against slavery was led by a group of Philadelphia Quakers in 1688

Believed all people equal before God It was a sin to own another person

Beliefs

Political reasons – Declaration of Independence said all people are endowed with unalienable rights-life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Society not democratic if slavery existed

Beliefs

Some against slavery due to own experiences

Black people, slave and free, hated the system

Believed any system that allowed slavery was unjust and inhumane

North and South By 1804 most North abolished slavery 1807 Congress banned the importation of African

slaves into the United States Abolitionist began to demand a law ending slavery

in the South South still supported it however Believed health of Southern economy depended

on slave labor Believed freeing the slaves would disrupt southern

society

Liberia

Abolitionists sought ways to free slaves and compensate– pay the slaveholders for their losses

Groups raised money to pay owners Some supported colonization – send former

slaves to Africa

Liberia

1817 American Colonization Society President Monroe helps group buy a strip of land

in West Africa Liberia established 1822 1st recruited free blacks Claimed it was a way for blacks to gain greater

freedom and independence 1827 few owners freed slaves and allowed them to

go to Liberia

Liberia

Some blacks felt they would be denied their full rights in the U.S.

Felt colonization was a way to a better life Paul Cuffe especially Cuffe a wealthy merchant, had sent 38

people to Africa before the ACS was formed

Died before he could carry out his entire plan of colonization

Blacks Oppose

Most blacks opposed idea Most ACS’s influential members were

southern planters who favored slavery Felt these members just wanted to get rid of

free blacks to tighten hold on slavery Blacks spoke out in speeches and pamphlets

stating they were in the United States to stay

Question??

Why was Liberia established?

Abolitionists Evolve

Free blacks backbone of antislavery movement

Antislavery societies formed Filed lawsuits, held lectures, gave speeches,

printed pamphlets, printed newspapers, submitted petitions to Congress, and even broke the law to reach their goals

Abolitionists

Samuel Cornish and John Russworm – 1827 1st black newspaper “Freedom’s Journal”

David Walker – 1829 printed a pamphlet urging slaves to revolt. “An Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World”.

Walker warned whites “We must and shall be Free…”

Pamphlets made their way in to the south

Abolitionists

Southerners offered a reward for Walker’s capture (Georgia Legislature offered $10,000)

Walker heard his life was in danger but would not run away

Shortly afterwards, he mysteriously was found dead

More Abolitionists William Lloyd Garrison – 1831 published an

abolitionist newspaper “The Liberator” Opposed violence, but wanted immediate freeing of

slaves Rejected the idea of compensating owners Famous quote “ … I will be Heard” Many people hated his views both north and south Was captured and drug to a park to be hung in

Boston 1834 until the mayor saved him Some blamed Garrison for Nat Turner’s bloody

revolt

Still More 1833 American Anti-Slavery Society formed by 1840

this group had more than 250,000 members in 15 states Grimke Sisters (Sarah and Angelina) Led public speeches about antislavery Angelina’s husband Theodore Weld also campaigned to

end slavery Sent petitions to Congress Proslavery Congressmen passed gag rules to prevent

the reading of his petitions in Congress John Q. Adams ignored the gag and read them anyways

and introduced an amendment to abolish slavery

And Still More!!

J.Q. Adams also defended a group of Africans who rebelled on the slave ship “Amistad”. He successfully argued their case before the Supreme Court in 1841, and in 1842 the Africans returned home

By 1840 a network of nearly 2,000 societies stretched across the North including black and white members

Eyewitnesses to Slavery Fredrick Douglass – 1838 escaped Maryland and fled to

Massachusetts Great speaker, people who opposed abolition spread

rumors that he was so good there was no way he was ever a slave.

To prove them wrong in 1845 published an autobiography that vividly narrated his experiences

After releasing his autobiography he feared recapture so he fled for 2 years to speak in Great Britain and Ireland

Upon returning, bought his freedom and published an antislavery newspaper

Most effective of all abolitionist speakers

Eyewitness Sojourner Truth– original name Isabella born in New

York 1827 fled her owners to live with Quakers who set her

free They also helped her win a court case to recover her

young son Changed her name in 1843 to reflect her work. She was

a devout Christian. Believed God had given her a special mission to speak against injustice

Sojourn means to stay temporarily in a place Traveled throughout the north telling her story and

vowing for freedom for slaves

Other Eyewitnesses

William Wells Brown – famous lecturer and writer also escaped slavery. Like Douglass went to England to speak

James Forten – born into freedom. Philadelphia businessman owned own sail making company. Contributed large amounts of money to Garrison

Another Key Speaker

Theodore D. Weld – Minister who gave moving sermons. Even converted entire communities.

Underground Railroad Abolitionists directly helped slaves escape Many escaped on the underground RR It was a network of people who helped runaway slaves

reach safety Leaders on the RR were known as conductors Led slaves to stations – homes of people who secretly

sheltered the runaways Slaves fled in the night house to house. Were helped

along the way by other slaves, free blacks, and sympathetic whites with food, shelter, and clothing

Some say between 30,000 and 100,000 slaves traveled the RR

Conductors

Most famous Harriet Tubman Born into slavery in Maryland. At 13 she

tried saving another slave from punishment and was struck over the head by the master with a two pound weight fracturing her skull. She suffered from drowsiness the rest of her life.

1849 escaped from her owner before she was to be sold

Tubman’s Crusades Made 19 journeys into the south to help others

escape Helped more than 300 slaves gain freedom Carried a pistol to frighten off slave hunters Carried medicine to quiet crying babies Enemies offered $40,000 for her capture Threatened with death any passenger who thought

of surrender or attempted to return “I never run my train off the track and I never lost

a passenger” declared Tubman

Tubman and more

Tubman helped to guide 6 of her brothers, her elderly parents, and a number of other relatives to freedom.

During the Civil War, she served as a nurse, scout, and spy for the Union.

Levi Coffin – Quaker from Indiana President of the RR. Often housed

runaways in his home when others couldn’t.

RR today

The Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act passed by Congress in 1998.

Instructed the National Park Service to identify and locate important places along the RR

By 1999 about 3 dozen sites located. Each marked by a plaque

Question??

How did abolitionists help in the Underground RR??

Movement is Split Members have different ideas and opinions Garrison took an aggressive stand (militant) Attacked church leaders and others who didn’t

speak against slavery Garrison believed North should separate from the

South Felt abolitionists should refuse to vote, hold

office, or take any political action as long as slavery existed

Disagreed with the Constitution

Split

Others felt political action was necessary Disagreed with Garrison’s effort to give women

equal rights in the Amer. Anti-Slavery Society. 1839 many broke off and started own organization Formed Liberty Party – antislavery political party Nominated James G. Birney for president Lost election but made abolition important

political issue

Militant Action

Some even called for militant action such as Henry Highland Garnet.

Former slave from Maryland Believed laws protecting slavery should be

defied

Question??

How were William Lloyd Garrison’s activities different from those of the Liberty Party?