History Essay #2-What Was the Abolitionist Movement?

The Abolitionist movement was an effort to end slavery in a nation that valued personal freedom and believed “all men are created equal.” The goal of the abolitionist movement was the immediate emancipation of all slaves and the end of racial discrimination and segregation.

African slavery began in 1619 in Jamestown. At first the whites felt uncomfortable with slavery but as laws and time past, then soon felt differently. When the U.S. Constitution was written, it made no specific mention of slavery, but it provided for the return of fugitives which included criminals, servants, and slaves.

The Missouri Compromise was an agreement proposed by Henry Clay that allowed Missouri to enter the Union as a slave state and Maine to enter as a free state. It outlawed slavery in any territories or states north of 36 degrees 30’ latitude. It allowed each slave to be counted as ⅗ of a person only to determine population in the House of Representatives.

In 1833 the Anti Slavery Society was formed. It denounced slavery as a sin that must be immediately abolished. By 1835, the society received substantial moral and financial support from African American communities. It also established hundreds of branches throughout the free states, flooding the north with anti-slavery petitions, newspapers, books and more that demanded Congress to end all federal support for slavery.

Many abolitionists helped greatly during the Abolitionist movement. William Lloyd Garrison published an abolitionist paper, the Liberator , beginning in 1831. He also helped found the American Anti Slavery Society. Angelina and Sarah Grimke were antislavery activists. Frederick Douglass escaped from slavery when he was 20 and later became one of the most important African American leaders of the 1800’s. He also gave regular lectures in the Anti Slavery society.

“ The blessings in which you, this day, rejoice are not enjoyed in common… This Fourth of July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn.” - Frederick Douglas.

Sojourner Truth is also helped during this time. She claimed God had called her to travel through the United States and preach the truth about slavery and women’s rights.

Harriet Tubman was a conductor on the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad was not an actual railroad but it was a network of people who arranged transportation and hiding places for fugitives or escaped slaves. The slaves would travel along routes that led them into Canada. Nobody was actually in charge of the Underground Railroad but despite the lack of any real structure, it managed to achieve great success in leading the slaves to a safe place.

The Abolitionist Movement was very successful in achieving a free country for every race.