The Abolitionist Movement

Slavery

• all work or service which is exacted from any person under the menace of any penalty and for which the said person has not offered himself [herself] voluntarily

• Control through violence or threat of violence

• Exploitation for profit

• Loss of free will

Abolition

• Definition: A complete end to slavery

• Abolitionist: some one that works toward a complete end to slavery.

• Emancipation: The immediate freedom from the control of another person.

History

• Quakers fought for an end to slavery from colonial times

• In the Second Great Awakening Christians pushed for change on moral grounds.

• Words of the Declaration of Independence included equality for all.

Spreading the Message

• Newspapers/Books– The Liberator: poetry and literature– The North Star & Narrative of the Life of Frederick

Douglass

• Speaking Tours– Some white activist: Angelina and Sarah Grimke– Freed African Americans: Frederick Douglass,

Sojourner Truth and Charles Remond

• Groups– American Anti-Slavery Society: wanted an end to

slavery immediately

Underground Railroad

• A network of people that arrange transportation and hiding places for African Americans as they try to escape from slavery.

• Spread path information in songs & other cultural tools

• Wore disguises and moved along the trails at night.

• Sometimes they were transported by hiding in boxes or wagons

Songs

• Go to the “Follow the Drinking Gourd Analysis” worksheet.

Quilt Patterns

• Monkey Wrench Drunkard’s Path

• Bow tie Bear Claw Trail

Underground Railroad

• Trail known as the “railroad”

• The hiding places during the day were called “stations”

• The abolitionists who traveled with the fugitives Conductors”…offered there home for protection were known as “station managers”

• Over 40,000 African Americans saved

Harriet Tubman

• Escaped from slavery in 1849

• Went back to the south 19 times to help others escape slavery

• She successfully led her family and 300 other African Americans to safety in the North and Canada.

• At one point the bounty for her capture was $40,000

Opposition

• Government: placed a gag rule on discussing emancipation petitions from 1836-1844.

North v. South

• South:– Slavery Necessary – Treat slaves well– Based on racism

• North:– Most believed slavery was wrong, but…– Freed slaves would not blend in– Take jobs from white men– Begin a war between the North & South– Did not want slavery to expand west