By Scott Luttmann, Nicholas Browndorf, and Colin Devlin

Early Opponents for Slavery  Many Americans involved in reform (2 nd Great Awakening and Temperance Movement) thought that slavery should be abolished  Quakers were one of 1 st Americans to speak out against slavery  Abolitionists argued that slavery contradicted basic argument of Declaration of Independence – all men are created equal

Colonization  Most north states abolished slavery by early 1800’s  American Colonization Society – created a plan to send free slaves to Africa to create new settlements  Most people shared the opinion that slaves would never fit into American society North wanted to end slavery South wanted to keep slavery

African American Reaction  Many northern free African Americans strongly objected to the statement that they would never fit into society  Opposed the American Colonization Society’s plan to banish them from their country of birth  Few freed slaved wanted to leave America  1827 – Samuel Cornish and John Russwurm started the 1 st African American newspaper: Freedom’s Journal, to proclaim opposition to slavery

Abolitionists Call For Action  Appeal and Liberator – 2 different publications Marked the start of more organized attack on slavery  David Walker – free African American businessman from Boston; published the Appeal of the Colored Citizens of the World  William Lloyd Garrison – white New England journalist; wrote the Liberator (newspaper) Believed slavery was as sin and a crime (contradicted Bible and Declaration)

Voices of the American Anti- Slavery Society  American Anti-Slavery Society – 1 st antislavery organization devoted to abolition and racial equality Excluded women from formal membership but many women assumed important roles in the society North and Mid-west  Prominent anti-slavery activists: Frederick Douglass Sojourner Truth Sarah and Angelina Grimke ○ Theodore Weld Elijah Lovejoy

Frederick Douglass  Escaped slave from Maryland – became prominent antislavery speaker Wrote an autobiography (Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass) – 1845 Was a slave who “suffered under the lash without the power of resisting”  Published newspaper called North Star – 1847  “he who has endured the cruel pangs of slavery is the man to support liberty”

Sojourner Truth  Another former slave who worked tirelessly for the American Anti-Slavery Society  Originally named Isabelle Baumfree  Grew up being a slave in NY Managed to flee ○ Went to New York City ○ Had a Dutch accent (grew up with Dutch owners)  Claimed she had a religious vision which instructed her to find a new mission and new identity (Sojourner Truth) - traveled New England preaching the gospel of abolition and women’s rights

The Grimke Sisters  Sarah & Angelina  2 most effective antislavery activists  Quakers that came from South Carolina  Moved to Philly to join Abolitionist movement  Angelina wrote Christian Women of the South to persuade women to join the movement  Among 1 st women to speak on behalf of the American Anti- Slavery Society  Theodore Weld - Angelina’s husband; published American Slavery As It Is – an influential document

Problems for Abolitionists  Abolitionists recruited 200,000 members to the cause  Southern slaveholders felt increasingly threatened  Some northerners opposed abolition  William Lloyd Garrison – found disrespect more bitter, opposition more active and indifference more frozen in New England than in the South

Violent Resistance  As the movement gained strength, violence increased  Angry mob attacked Garrison in 1835 in Boston  Elijah Lovejoy – abolitionist editor in Illinois was murdered in 1837 when he tried to prevent a mob from destroying his printing press  Many northern wage earners feared competing with the free African Americans for jobs  Northern merchants and mill owners were afraid that abolition would disrupt cotton production

The Movement Splinters  Garrison (who blamed Churches and Gov for accepting slavery) was criticized as his appeals became more fierce Denounced the constitution as a sacred contract with death and warned abolitionists to rely on moral appeals alone to end slavery Called for equal rights for women – troubled many moderates ○ White male abolitionists believed that women should remain in the domestic sphere Did not appreciate women's increased activity in the movement

The Movement Splinters (cont.)  Women with reform-minded opinions were a big part in the abolitionist movement  Martha W. Stewart – won converts to abolition as early as 1832 Became 1 st American women to speak to mixed gender audiences about abolition  Garrison put Abby Kelley on the society committee Didn’t damage the cause People left and made their own organization because of this  By late 1840’s there were more than 2,000 local abolition societies Most in Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania