If the Union must be dissolved slavery is precisely
the question upon which it ought to break
John Quincy Adams
US Civil War
Background of Abolitionists
MishMosh of Beliefs
Reformers.
• Saw slavery as a blight on
American society and a
roadblock to progress.
• Mostly came from the
middle-class, who were
already reforming prisons,
education, equality for
women, mental health,
government, and services for
the poor.
Susan B. Anthony
http://ncwhs.oah.org/images/YoungSusanB.jpg
Background of Abolitionists
MishMosh of Beliefs
Moral grounds.
• Declaration of Independence
declared all people are
created equal.
• The Bible preaches equality.
• A byproduct of the Second
Great Awakening and Charles
Finney.
Charles Finney
http://demo.lutherproductions.com/historytutor/basic
/modern/people/images/Finney.jpg
Background of Abolitionists
MishMosh of Beliefs
Political reasons.
• Democrats protested the denial of
political and civil rights to blacks.
• By 1805, all of the Northern states
had either outlawed slavery or set
out gradual emancipation.
• Northerners believed that the slave
South was gaining power and trying
to push north of the Missouri
Compromise line.
Map of US after
MO Compromise
http://www.americanforeignrelations.com/images/en
an_0001_0002_0_img0141.jpg
Background of Abolitionists
MishMosh of Beliefs
Perfectionists
• Blend of 2nd Great Awakening
• Abolition
• Women’s Rights
• Refusal to obey a “corrupt” societies laws
• “No Union with slaveholders
Are you Perfect???
http://resources.prufrock.com/Portals/0/BlogImages/
Perfectionism.jpg
Background of Abolitionists
Key Terms
Emancipation.
• Freeing of slaves.
• Abolition.
– The immediate
and total end of
slavery.
An Emancipated Slave
http://eprentice.sdsu.edu/S03X2/pasenelli/Emancipation.jpg
Abolitionist Opinions
Colonization
Benjamin Lundy.
• Quaker publisher, tried to persuade
Southerners to free their slaves.
• Once freed, he explored the possibility of
colonization in Canada or Haiti.
Benjamin Lundy
http://images.virtualology.com/ac/4/i/ency0027.jpg
Abolitionist Opinions
Colonization
1817, American
Colonization Society.
• Gradual emancipation of
slaves, with freed slaves to
be sent to colonies in Africa.
• Founded the colony of
Liberia.
• Would be a long and
expensive process.
• Slave owners would have to
voluntarily take a loss.
Liberia
http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=62283&rendTypeId=4
Abolitionist Opinions
Former Slaves, David Walker
Born to freed slaves, moved
to Massachusetts
David Walker’s Appeal.
• A pamphlet that urged AfricanAmericans to use violent
means, if necessary, to win
their freedom.
• Known as the “diabolical
pamphlet” throughout the
South.
David Walker
http://cache.eb.com/eb/thumb?id=78425
Abolitionist Opinions
Former Slaves. Frederick Douglass
Background.
• Most well-known escaped slave.
• Learned to read and write and
mastered a trade while a slave.
• Earned enough money from lectures
and writing to send to his former
master and legally purchase his
freedom.
Became part of the
Massachusetts Anti-Slavery
Society.
• Would associate with leading
abolitionists of the time period.
Frederick Douglass
http://www-tc.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/images/4fred16b.jpg
Abolitionist Opinions
Former Slaves. Frederick Douglass
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass.
• Freedom required not only emancipation, but
also full social and economic equality.
Frederick Douglass
http://www.ls.cc.al.us/blackhistory/douglass2.jpg
Abolitionist Opinions
Former Slaves. Frederick Douglass
Changing opinions.
• Originally wanted emancipation
by violent means.
• Late 1840s, decides to break with
the “radical abolitionists.”
• Believed that the Constitution needed
to be upheld.
• If it was not, then emancipation meant
nothing because blacks would not be
treated as equals.
• Destroy slavery by working
within the system.
Frederick Douglass
http://img.timeinc.net/time/2002/bhm/history/images/douglas.jpg
Abolitionist Opinions
William Lloyd Garrison
Assistant of Benjamin Lundy, would become
a leading abolitionist.
• Became leader of the radical view.
• Wanted the immediate emancipation of slaves.
• Did not care about the political, social, and
economic consequences.
William Lloyd Garrison
http://images.acswebnetworks.com/1/934/garrison_portrait.jpg
Abolitionist Opinions
William Lloyd Garrison
Refused to engage in
political activity to end
slavery.
• Compromises have failed in the
past.
• Laws made to protect slavery
were illegal under God’s law.
Prepared to destroy the
Union to gain their ends.
William Lloyd Garrison
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/Will
iam_garrison.jpg/250px-William_garrison.jpg
Abolitionist Opinions
William Lloyd Garrison
Garrison was so radical
that he burned the
Constitution.
• Called it an “agreement with
Hell.”
William Lloyd Garrison
http://www.arfalpha.com/PushToTheFront/Volume1_HTM/41e4c670.jpg
Abolitionist Opinions
William Lloyd Garrison
The Liberator.
• Key abolitionist newspaper.
• Extremely controversial in both the North and the
South.
• Would be banned in the South.
• Set out the reasons for abolition in a graphic
manner.
William Lloyd Garrison
http://www.olemiss.edu/courses/his105/images/liberator.jpg
Abolitionist Opinions
William Lloyd Garrison
Importance of Garrison.
• Did not have many followers, but opened up new views
on abolition.
• Abolition was not a reform movement, but a revolution.
• Achieving racial equality, not just ending slavery, will
lead to the true goal: full justice for blacks.
Saw blacks as true equals.
Supported the efforts of female abolitionists
and the women’s rights movement.
Abolitionist Opinions
Moderate Abolitionists
Leaders.
• Arthur Tappan, Lewis Tappan, Theodore Weld, Frederick Douglass.
Arthur Tappan
Theodore Weld
http://www.whatsaiththescripture.com/Gr
aphics.Voice/A.T.Pierson.med.jpg
http://www.wwhp.org/Resources/Biograp
hies/Images/theodoredwightweld.jpg
Arthur Tappan
Frederick
Douglass
http://images.usatoday.com/money/_phot
os/2004/11/04/inside1-tappan.jpg
http://memory.loc.gov/gc/lhbcb/25385/00
02.jpg
Abolitionist Opinions
Moderate Abolitionists
Origins & beliefs.
• Broke with Garrison in 1840.
• “Immediate emancipation… gradually achieved”
through political activity.
• Did not want female abolitionists to take an active role.
• Believed that slavery was enough of an issue to antagonize people.
• Would lose support.
Created the Liberty Party.
• Would be one of the numerous “third parties” created to
fight for the end of slavery.