Opposition to Slavery

Americans Oppose Slavery In the 1830’s there was an

anti-slavery group known as the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery.

It was led by former founding father Benjamin Franklin.

The term abolition means a complete end to slavery.

Differences Among Abolitionists The Quakers were among the

first groups to challenge slavery on religious grounds.

Some abolitionists believed that African-Americans should have the same treatment as whites while in contrast, other abolitionists were against full political and social equality.

Some abolitionists even went to the extreme suggesting that African-Americans even start a colony in the African country of Liberia.

Spreading the Abolitionist Message One of the most well-known

Caucasian abolitionists, William Lloyd Garrison published a newspaper known as The Liberator.

He helped even more when he helped to found the American Anti-Slavery Society.

This organization’s members wanted immediate emancipation and racial equality for African Americans.

African-American Abolitionists One of the most important

leaders of his time, Frederick Douglass was a runaway slave who was active in the abolitionist cause.

He published a newspaper called The North Star.

Was able to read, write and gave great lectures.

Another former slave, Sojourner Truth claimed God had called her to travel through the United States and preach the truth about slavery and women’s rights.

The Underground Railroad The Underground Railroad was

not an actual railroad but was a network of people who arranged transportation and hiding places for fugitives, or escaped slaves.

Nobody was in charge but it was led by a series of conductors.

People stopped to rest during the day at “stations.”

The most famous conductor was Harriet Tubman.

She returned to the south 19 times and helped more than 300 slaves escape to freedom.

At one time, a $40,000 reward was offered for her capture.

Opposition to Ending Slavery Some in the North supported slavery

while others disliked it but opposed equality for African Americans

Many in the north feared that if slaves were freed, they would take jobs from northern workers as African-Americans would accept lower wages.

Even the federal government obstructed abolitionists. The U.S. House used a gag order to silence abolitionists.

This violated the first amendment of citizens to petition the government.

Eventually, former president John Quincy Adams overturned the rule.

Racism, fear, and economic dependence made emancipation all but impossible in the South.