David Walker
In the late 1800s, the movement to end slavery became
stronger than ever. David Walker, while not a slave himself,
wrote a pamphlet titled David Walker’s Appeal that called for
slaves to revolt. Even though many banned this pamphlet
from circulating, it still caused a stir amongst slaves and
abolitionists. Besides writing this pamphlet, how else did
Walker influence America?
Some people in America had always been against slavery. In the 1800s, however, the movement
to end slavery became stronger than ever before. David Walker’s Appeal had a big influence on
that movement.
Although he was born a freeman, David Walker saw slavery first-hand during his childhood.
Those experiences inspired him to write the Appeal, a long pamphlet which called for slaves to
revolt (violently, if necessary) against their slave masters. The Appeal was banned in many
parts of the country. Some people were even arrested for owning it. Despite its controversy, the
pamphlet influenced many abolitionists and brought national attention to the cause of ending
slavery.
Walker, D. (1829). David Walker's Appeal in Four Articles, together with a Preamble, to the Coloured
Citizens of the World . . . (September 1829). (Image 2). Library of Congress: American
Memory, African American Odyssey.
In his writing, Walker contrasted the system of
slavery with the ideals that helped create
America. His argument that slavery violated
America ’s celebrated belief in liberty was used by
many abolitionists.
Walker, D. (1829). David Walker's Appeal in Four
Articles, together with a Preamble, to the Coloured
Citizens of the World . . . (September 1829). (Image
5). Library of Congress: American Memory, African
American Odyssey.
This is an example of the types of materials abolitionists used to promote their cause. It
combines powerful, controversial images with a descriptive text. In this case, the text is an
anti-slavery poem by John Greenleaf Whittier.
American Anti-Slavery Society & Anti-Slavery Office (New York). (1837). Am I not a man and a
brother?. Library of Congress: Prints & Photographs, Cartoon Prints, American .
David Walker’s Appeal called for immediate
revolt. This passionate plea for change affected
the next forty years of the abolitionist
movement. One person influenced by David
Walker’s call for rebellion was Nat Turner, a
slave who led a violent revolt against slave
owners in Virginia .
Gray, T. (1832). The Confessions of Nat Turner, the
Leader of the Late Insurrection in Southampton,
Virginia . . . . . Library of
Congress: Exhibitions, The African American
Odyssey: A Quest for Full Citizenship.