The Rise of Abolitionism and the Texas War of Independence

Unit 5, Lesson 4

Essential Idea

• Abolitionism grew but gained little traction until after the United States considered annexing Texas.

Early Opposition to Slavery

• Early Opposition to Slavery:• Slavery was abolished in all northern

states during or soon after the American Revolution

• Many southerners admitted slavery was a “necessary evil” because their economy depended on slavery

• Early Ideas on Ending Slavery:• Gradualism—many Americans supported

ending slavery GRADUALLY and compensating the owners

• Colonization—some also supported moving blacks back to Africa (did not work well)

Abolitionism Begins

• Abolitionism Begins:• After the Second Great

Awakening, some northerners saw slavery as a sin needing reform

• Abolition—complete, immediate emancipation (freeing) of slaves

Major Abolitionists

• 1. David Walker• Free black

northerner who promoted violence to end slavery

• 2. Sojourner Truth• Ex-slave woman

who promoted both abolition AND women’s rights

Major Abolitionists

• 2. William Lloyd Garrison

• White northerner who started the newspaper, The Liberator

• He aggresively promoted abolition and the use of violence if necessary

Major Abolitionists

• 4. Frederick Douglass• Ex-slave who escaped

north and wrote an autobiography exposing slave life

• Douglass • He became the leading

black abolitionist that was known for his writing

• He supported women’s rights also

• Abolitionism

Resistence from Slaves • Non-Violent Slave Resistence: • Slaves resisted by sabatoging equipment and engaging in work

slow downs • Underground Railroad—a secret, informal organization that

helped thousands of slaves escape the South• Harriet Tubman—this “railroad conductor” returned south

over a dozen times to help over 70 slaves escape• Underground Railroad

Slave Rebellions• Violent Slave Resistence:• Slaves sometimes resorted to

violence • Nat Turner’s Rebellion—Turner, a

slave minister, led an armed rebellion that killed over 50 white men, women, and children

• Nat Turner’s Rebellion• Consequences:• Slaves outnumbered whites in

many areas• Southern whites, fearful of more

rebellions, passed stricter slave codes to keep control

• Southerners feared the consequences of abolitionism

• Quelling Slave Rebellion

Reactions to Abolitionism: North• Northern Reaction:• MIXED—most

northerners were NOT abolitionists

• Reasons:• Northern textile mills

needed southern cotton

• Many feared exslaves would move north to “steal” factory jobs

• Many feared abolition would start civil war

Reactions to Abolitionism: South

• Southern Reaction:• NEGATIVE—

southerners hated abolitionists

• Reasons:• Southerners

NEEDED slavery to support their cotton-based economy

• Southerners started calling slavery a “positive good” not a “necessary evil”

Reactions to Abolitionism: Overall• Overall Reaction:• Overall, the country was indifferent to or against abolition AT FIRST • Later, the North and South disagreed on if slavery could expand west as the

country grew• The issue of annexing (bringing in) Texas began the rise in tension over slavery

Texas

• Texas:• Present-day California,

New Mexico, and Texas were states of Mexico

• Mexico let Americans move to Texas to boost its population

• Mexico wanted them to adopt Mexican culture, but Texas became more American

Texas Declares Independence

• Reasons Tension Rose:• 1. Texans felt more loyal to

the United States • 2. Many Texans owned slaves,

which Mexico outlawed • 3. The President of Mexico

(Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna) declared himself dictator

• Independence Declared:• Stephen Austin helped

organize an army• Sam Houston took command

of the Texas army• Texas declared independence

in 1836• Texas and Independence

Texas War of Independence: Battle of the Alamo

• Event 1: • Battle of the

Alamo—the Mexican army (1,800) surrounded Texan forces (189) at the Alamo

• Despite being outnumbered, the Texans held off the Mexicans for 13 days

Texas War of Independence: Battle of the Alamo

• The Mexican army killed every Texan

• Signficance:• The battle

bought Houston time to build his army

• The Alamo and Goliad

Texas War of Independence: Battle of San Jacinto

• Event 2:• Battle of San Jacinto—Houston’s army ambushed the Mexicans as they

slept• Yelling, “Remember the Alamo,” they won in under 20 minutes

The Republic of Texas is Born • Significance:• Santa Anna was forced to recognize Texas’ independence as a new country• Battle of San Jacinto and Independence

Texas and Slavery• Consequences of

Texas Independence:• Texas wanted to be

annexed by the United States

• The North did not want Texas, which had slavery, to become a new slave state

• Tension over slavery started to increase

• Tension increased between the United States and Mexico over annexing Texas