The Abolitionist Movement - Essay Example

of the THE ABOLITIONIST MOVEMENT The Abolitionist Movement is one of the most revolutionary movements started by the mankind. The movement fought for equality for blacks and demanded immediate emancipation for all slaves. This movement saw many visionaries who spearheaded the movement for attaining its goals. By Name of the Student Department Subject Date ABOLITIONIST MOVEMENT Material wealth and greed has always been the prime reason for men to indulge in activities which cannot be termed as moral or ethical by any standards. Throughout the human history men has been exploiting other people in the name of race, religion or ethnicity in order to fulfill their selfish needs. Selfish needs of certain people especially if they are in power often result in backlash and revolt. Such revolts arise mostly because of suppression and lack of freedom. There have been many revolutions throughout the world which has changed the world for better. Abolitionist movement is one such revolution which arose in 1800’s with a motive to achieve emancipation for all slaves and to end all kind of racial discrimination in Unites States of America. People who supported the movement or advocated immediate end to slavery were known as abolitionist. Abolitionist movement which had started centuries ago was not new to the American people as many African slaves used to kill either themselves or their captors in order to resist slavery. In nineteen century when the society became more liberal and aware, more and more white people condemned slavery as unchristian.1 The first white people to denounce slavery in Europe and European colonies were known as Quakers. Quakers believed in universal equality and demanded equal rights for black and white man. They played an important role in abolishing slavery in Europe and were also behind the abolitionist movement in United States.2 Human right abuses involved in slave trade and slavery was one of the main reasons for the discomfort among many white people which also contributed towards abolitionist movement.3 Slaves were chained and were transported in crowded diseases ridden ships. These slaves were subject to abuse from the ship crew. Many of the Africans died on their way to America. The working conditions of these slaves were inhuman and were made to do rigorous labor in dreadful conditions. Although the movement started in 1800’s the overall sentiment regarding the abolitionist movement remained muted until 1830 when American Anti Slavery Society was formed to raise voice against slavery and the overall anti slavery movement gathered pace. The movement was very controversial as many powerful businessman and politicians opposed ending slavery, as it meant huge economical losses to them. The movement which started in the year 1800‘s gathered momentum in 1830 when prominent people like Fredrick Douglass, William Lloyd Garrison entered the movement and helped it to spread across the nation. Two main factors that led to the Abolition reform movement was the growing agitation of the black abolitionists and unrest caused by black slaves in the south and the great second awakening. The unrest caused in the south convinced many abolitionists and other white people in north that continuation of slavery could lead to more unrest and violence. The massive revolt of 1822 lead by Denmark Vesey4 in South Carolina and slave uprising in 1831 by Nat Turner were used as an example by abolitionist to make aware the people regarding the dangers of slavery.5 Other reason for the movement to gather pace was because of the Maroon communities which were formed by escaped slaves in an inaccessible area. Slaves in these communities were heavily armed and it was very difficult for the local authorities to catch these slaves again. These communities became safe havens for escaped slaves. The inability of local authorities and their raids on plantations made the white man aware of the dangers of slavery.6 Another important reason for the Abolitionist movement to gather momentum was due to the wave of Evangelical revivalism which is also known as the Second Great Awakening. This awakening was also the main reason which made people belief that slavery was unchristian and indulging in slavery is a sin. The spirit of Abolitionist surged in early 1830 especially in the north east part of United States. One of the prime architects of the Abolitionist movement William Garrison launched a newspaper named The Liberator7 from New England in 1831 in which he condemned slavery and asked for its abolition. This move earned him the reputation of the most radical white abolitionist. The movement chief spokesperson William Lloyd Garrison who began publishing his anti slavery newspaper used this medium to raise voice against slavery and advocated civil rights of the black. During the early 1800 many abolitionists suggested that slaves should be given freedom and emigrated to Liberia where they can live without any kind of bondage. The main difference in the abolitionist movement in 1830 was that new abolitionist leaders wanted to equal civil rights for the blacks and were against their emigration to Liberia as many blacks who were born and brought up in United States did not wanted to leave their birthplace and settle in a foreign land. 8 Garrison main war cry was immediate emancipation, he new that it was not an easy task to convince all Americans to oppose Abolitionist particularly in the south and therefore in order to increase the awareness of his movement he formed the New England Anti Slavery Society and the American Anti Slavery Society in 1833. In 1833 William Garrison and six others members from both the races met in Philadelphia to form the American Anti Slavery Society which considered slavery as a sin and demanded an immediate end to slave trade and slavery in United States through non violence means. His society demanded immediate abandonment of slavery without compensation to its masters. They wanted complete abolition of slave trade in the entire country. He along with Frederick Douglass called for immediate emancipation of all slaves and full civil rights for the blacks.9 Garrison tried to use his newspaper to convince the people in north that slavery was sin and in order to bring more force to their campaign he joined hands with Quaker abolitionists, Evangelical abolitionists and other associates to form the anti slavery society. By 1835 the society received considerable financial and moral support particularly from African Americans in the north and the society was able to established branches in different parts of the country for gathering support. The society flooded literature throughout the north and other free states and made several petitions to Congress demanding immediate end to federal support for slavery. The society also denounced the black emigration program of the American Colonization Society. The support for anti slavery was ambiguous. Although majority of abolitionist supporters agreed on ending slavery but the difference arise on the method which to achieve the said goal and many were supporting it morally but showed their unwillingness to take any concrete actions. While Garrison was not in favor of political actions, some moderate abolitionist formed a political party called the Liberal Party and James G Birney even ran for Presidential post in 1840.10 Other activists proposed that slavery should only be accepted in states where it already existed but opposed any further expansion. Free blacks were the strongest supporters of the abolitionist movement and were headed by Fredrick Douglass who was an educated slave who escaped and advocated abolition of slavery. Although these societies helped in spreading the abolitionist movement, many of their members were subjected to physical violence by anti abolitionist activists. All activities of abolitionist raised widespread response throughout the country and many anti abolitionist members burn their literature and even killed one of their leading abolitionist editors named Elijah Lovejoy in the year 1837. Many southerners believed that in order to have continued economic prosperity, slavery must exist. Many slaveholders believed that in order to work in large plantations slaves were required as they were much cheaper than white European labour and they were also immune from European dieses which Native Americans were not having and were dying. Another reason for its resistance was that many slaveholders believed that their safety could be endangered if their slaves were allowed to roam freely. Because of the large of number of slaves were brought in from Africa many states had black majority. The southern states of US which were against anti slavery movements succeeded in passing a gag rule11 in 1836, which prohibited any anti slavery discussion in Congress. The rule was not removed until 1844 which was done under immense pressure from Northern Abolitionist and other human rights activist. This gag ruled was the result of numerous petitions submitted to congress for abolishing slavery and slave trade in District Columbia. Some of the main leaders who were involved in the abolitionist movement were Frederick Douglass, William Wells Brown, Edmund Quincy and Wendell Phillips. Frederick Douglass was an educated slave who escaped from slavery and became an abolitionist leader. He was an excellent orator and played an instrumental role in convincing people against slavery and for propelling the abolitionist campaign. His genius proved many white people wrong that believed that whites were superior to black intellectually. 12 Another notable abolitionist leader was Arthur Tappan who was a successful businessman and a philanthropist. He along with his brother actively participated in abolitionist movement and contributed in the movement financially and morally. Wendell Phillips was also an important leader in abolitionist movement and was a lawyer by profession. He dedicated himself completely to the cause and joined hands with other abolitionist leaders for ending slavery in United States. There were also female abolitionists like Lucy Stone, Lucretia Coffin Mott, and Susan Anthony who were actively involved in anti slavery campaign and made efforts to end federal support to any kind slavery. The abolitionists were able to influence a large number of people in the north. The movement had made a huge impact on the society and tensions between the northern and the southern states became quite high and eventually led to a civil war. Although the movement did took some time to achieve their motive, their main accomplishment was liberation of millions of black people and the victory of modern ideals of liberty and human rights over laws which were made only for elite and privileged. The abolitionist movement is a great example of how people from different backgrounds, race or ethnicity can come together to eradicate evil sins from the society set example of universal brotherhood. Works Citied Bisson, Terry, and John Davenport. 2005. Nat Turner: Slave Revolt Leader. New York: Infobase Publishing. Douglass, Frederick. 1845. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. Boston: Anti Slave Office. Fauchald, Nick. 2005. William Lloyd Garrison: Abolitionist and Journalist. Minneapolis: Compass Point Books. Garrison, William. 1833. The Abolitionist. Ed. A COMMITTEE. Boston: Garrison & Knapp. Lockley, Timothy, ed. 2009. Maroon Communities in South Carolina. Columbia, South Carolina: University of South Carolina Press. Mcneese, Tim. 2008. The Abolitionist Movement. New York: Infobase Publishing. Powers, Benard, Jr. 1994. Black Charlestonians. Arkansas: University of Arkansas. Read More