Chapter 14 New Movements in America – Section 4 (pgs 454-459)

The Movement to End Slavery

Americans Oppose Slavery Ben Franklin- president of 1st anti-slavery society in America called The Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery

*abolition- complete end to slavery

Differences among Abolitionists * Many different reasons for opposing slavery -Quakers first to oppose slavery for religious reasons -Abolitionists published & distributed pamphlets hoping to con- vince people to support the abolitionist movement

Key Terms & People

abolition

William Lloyd Garrison

American Anti-Slavery Society

Angelina & Sarah Grimke

Frederick Douglass

Sojourner Truth

Underground Railroad

Harriet Tubman * Social reform refers changes to society, how people live & work.

-Cited the Declaration of Independence, reminding people the Revolution was fought in the name of liberty and other unalienable rights * Although abolitionists wanted African Americans to be free, they did not agree on how much equality they should have. (many believed they should not have the same rights as white Americans > discrimination) * 1817- Robert Finley (minister) started the American Colonization Society- organization dedicated to establishing colonies of freed slaves in Africa (Liberia (colony) started- 1822) -hoped sending freed African Americans to start colonies in Africa would prevent conflicts between racial groups in the US -many supporters of sending freed slaves to start African colonies later realized it was unfair to send people away from their homes (just like Native American removal!)

Spreading the Abolitionist Message * ways to spread the message: speaking tours, distribute pamphlets, publish newspaper articles, authors wrote abolitionist poetry & literature -William Lloyd Garrison- published abolitionist newspaper, Liberator, started: 1831 - 1833: helped found American Anti-Slavery Society- members wanted immediate emancipation (freedom) & racial equality for African Americans (Garrison later became president of this group) - AA-SS petitioned Congress to end federal support of slavery - 1840- AA-SS split: one group wanted immediate freedom for enslaved African Americans & bigger role for women, others wanted gradual (slow/one step at a time) emmancipation & women to play minor roles

-Angelina & Sarah Grimke- white southern women, anti-slavery activists (1830’s) - wrote & distributed pamphlet: Appeal to the Christian Women of the South (1836) tried to recruit other white southern women to join their cause - wrote book: American Slavery As It Is

African American Abolitionists * many former slaves active in the anti-slavery movement - Frederick Douglas escaped slavery at age 20, secretly learned to read/write (against the law for African Americans to read/write) -gave regular lectures at Anti-Slavery Society meetings/events -published newspaper & several auto- biographies intended to show injustices of slavery

- Sojourner Truth, former slave, claimed God called her to travel through the US to preach the truth about slavery & women’s rights - known for her deep voice, quick wit, & fiery dramatic speeches

1830’s- loosely organized group of Free African Americans, former slaves, a few white abolitionists were helping slaves escape from the South *Underground Railroad- the organization was not an actual railroad but was a network of people who arranged transportation and hiding places for fugitives (escaping slaves) * fugitives would travel along freedom trails that led to northern states (where slavery was illegal) or Canada * at no time, did the Underground Railroad have any sort of formal leadership or structure * wearing disguises, fugitives moved along the railroad at night, led by people called conductors * fugitives had no guideposts but the stars * stopped at stations (barns, attics, other hiding places on property) owned by abolitionists known as station masters, who hid & fed fugitives * One of the most famous conductors: Harriet Tubman - escaped slavery in 1849 leaving her family behind, but promising she would come back and lead them to freedom - returned to the South 19 times to lead her family & 300 other slaves to freedom on the Underground Railroad

Opposition to Ending Slavery * In the North many white northerners agreed with the South & supported slavery or may have disliked slavery but opposed equality for African Americans * Many warned that freed slaves would take jobs from white workers (many believed they would lose their jobs because freed slaves would accept lower pay) * Abolitionist leaders were often threatened with violence and some were killed for their efforts * federal government obstructed abolitionists: 1836-1844- US House of Representatives used gag rule which forbade Congressmen from discussing antislavery petitions (this violated the 1st amendment which said citizens had the right to petition the government) - many in Congress didn’t want to debate slavery/wanted to avoid the issue * White southerners saw slavery as vital to their economy & didn’t want outsiders interfering with their way of life * After Nat Turner’s Rebellion in 1831, it became dangerous to voice anti-slavery talk in southern states

Where does that leave us?

Racism, fear, and economic dependence on slavery made emancipation (freeing the slaves) impossible in the South