1. William Lloyd Garrison & David Walker
The Abolitionists
William Lloyd Garrison
&
David Walker

2. General Overview 1820—Missouri Compromise 1824—Liberia founded
1829—Walker publishes Appeal in four Articles
1831—First edition of The Liberator is published
William Lloyd Garrison and David Walker had differing viewpoints regarding the methods of Abolitionists.

3. Who was David Walker?
Born to a slave father and free mother
Due to his mother’s status as a free woman Walker was considered free
Walker was an African-American abolitionist and writer
He grew up witnessing slavery and discrimination
This inspired him to help the poor and escaped slaves
Founder of Massachusetts General Colored Association
Died at age 33

4. David Walker Text Overview
An Appeal To The Colored Citizens of The World (1829)
In this text, Walker criticizes claims in favor of slavery that use the Bible as means to justify these terrible acts. He calls out the hypocrisy of these Christian.
He shifted the conversation to point out scripture that proved slavery is anything but Christian.
It was his mission to not only abolish slavery, but to make sure everyone was granted the rights they were promised by God.

5. Rhetorical Devices and Strategies
Walker was known for his fiery rhetoric. He held nothing back when calling out those guilty of discrimination and slave owning.
“The whites have always been an unjust, jealous, unmerciful, avaricious and bloodthirsty set of beings, always seeking after power and authority” (Walker 135).
Walker also relies heavily on Biblical rhetoric. This strategy of constantly alluding the the Bible gave Walker credibility and provided moral and physical evidence against slavery.
“Man is a peculiar creature--he is the image of his God, though he may be subjected to the most wretched condition upon earth” (Walker 141)
“Oh! My God, have mercy on Christian Americans!” (Walker 139)

6. Rhetorical Devices and Strategies
Walker asks his audience questions throughout the text. This constant use of rhetorical questions holds the audience accountable for their actions instead of passively listening.
“What right, then, has one of us, to despise another and to treat him cruel, on account of his color, which none but the God who made it can alter?” (Walker 140).
“Can the Americans escape the God Almighty? If they do, can he be to us a God of Justice?” (Walker 137).

7. An Appeal To The Colored Citizens of The World

8. Question:
Walker was known for his fiery rhetoric, in some cases this could be seen as a poor strategy as people could find this kind of rhetoric accusatory and shy away from truly hearing what Walker had to say, why then was this strategy so effective for Walker?

9. Who Was William Lloyd Garrison?
Founded The Liberator with Isaac Knapp
Abolitionist
Suffrage Supporter

10. William Lloyd Garrison Text Overview
An Address to the American Colonization Society (1829)
Garrison argued against slavery and often wanted to appeal to the humanity of those in support of slavery.
Page “advocacy [for] immediate and unconditional emancipation”.
He wanted them to see that slaves were people too and that they deserved the same rights as they did.
Used the Bible to show that God’s word didn’t support slavery (Garrison 98).
He referenced the Bible to also discuss the conditions of the slaves (Garrison 98).
Argued that the constitution was for all people, which included slaves and because the descendents of the original slaves were born on American soil, they were Americans (Garrison 98).
(Garrison 100, 101)

11. Rhetorical Devices and Strategies
Implementing sections of the constitution, He asked a magnitude of questions on how they believed “all men [were] created equal” if there were still slaves? He even questioned if slaves were white, like his audience, would they still treat them as they do slaves?
Egos, pathos, Logos
His “rhetorical strategies was the assumption that his speeches and writing were being directed to reasonable people” (Garrison 105).
His other strategy was assuming “the emotional appeal to common humanity” (Garrison 105).
“Ironic observation or statement” (Garrison 105).
These came through with his continuous use of “We Shall”

12. An Address to the American Colonization Society
“It should make this a day of fasting and prayer, not boisterous merriment and idle pageantry - a day of great lamentation, not congratulatory joy,” (Garrison 96).
Speaking about the celebration of America’s independence.
“I stand up here in a more solemn court, [...] to obtain the liberation of two millions of wretched, degraded beings, who are pining in hopeless bondage-over whose sufferings scarcely an eyes weeps,” (Garrison 96)
Regarding the treatment of slaves. (Also reference page 100 and 101).

13. Question:
One of Garrison’s rhetorical strategies was assuming that the audience he was speaking with were reasonable people, but it was not only logic and facts Garrison used to persuade his audience. Garrison also often referenced the Bible in his works though, what would be Garrison’s purpose for using the Bible if he believed his audience were reasonable people?

14. References and Works Cited
American Experience PBS. “Who Is William Lloyd Garrison?” YouTube, Uploaded by American ExperiencePBS, 18 Dec. 2012,
“David Walker's ‘Appeal to the Coloured Citizens of the World.’” YouTube, Uploaded by NEHgov, 15 Jan. 2014,
“David Walker” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service,
David Walker Appeal. Britannica Encyclopedia, Wikimedia. commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:David_Walker_Appeal.jpg.
Garrison, William Lloyd. “An Address to the American Colonization Society.” Against Slavery, Penguin Books, 2000, pp. 93–103.
I Will Be Heard! Abolitionism in America. Cornell University. The Gettysburg Address, rmc.library.cornell.edu/abolitionism/strategies.htm.
Liberator v.1, no.1, Library Company of Philadelphia. Wikimedia.
Lowance, Mason I. Against Slavery: an Abolitionist Reader. Penguin Books, 2000.
Walker, David. “An Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World.” Against Slavery, Penguin Books, 2000, pp. 133–143.
William Lloyd Garrison, engraving from 1879 newspaper.