Summary: The Great Divide

As we already noted – in the 1800s expediency of slavery was disputed. While industrial North almost abandoned bondage, by the early 19th century, slavery was almost exclusively confined to the South, home to more than 90 percent of American blacks (Barney W., p. 61). Agrarian South needed free labor force in order to stimulate economic growth. In particular, whites exploited blacks in textile production. This conditioned the differences in economic and social development of the North and South, and opposing viewpoints on the social structure. “Northerners now saw slavery as a barbaric relic from the past, a barrier to secular and Christian progress that contradicted the ideals of the Declaration of Independence and degraded the free-labor aspirations of Northern society” (Barney W., p. 63).

In The Long Emancipation: The Demise of Slavery in the United States, Berlin draws attention to various parts of anti-slavery resistance that often escape consideration. He emphasizes the efforts of African Americans themselves. Berlin brings together main ideas, events, and people who made slave emancipation in the U.S. possible and that American freedom as a complex, disputed process. The author is not focused on speeches, written arguments, and petitions against slavery but with how slaves and free blacks took steps to permanently pull apart forced servitude in the face of crushing hostility. Author Glenn David Brasher of The Peninsula Campaign and the Necessity of Emancipation: African Americans and the Fight for Freedom zooms in and focuses

“He believed in freedom of mankind and he preached it, openly, bravely, at a time when such preaching meant not merely social ostracism and political opposition, but personal danger,” was how Theodore Weld was described shortly after his death in 1859. Not only is this description true, but it highlights Theodore Weld’s passion to end slavery as a bold abolitionist. His approach to ending slavery was different from other abolitionists; Weld desired to spread education rather than accusation. This resulted in people attaining a better understanding of slavery and knowing the why of how slavery is wrong and oppressive. Weld was also very capable of lecturing and is popularly known as “one of the most fearless and powerful lecturers” , while that is true, Weld accomplished many other things that were more effective than his lecturing. Such as publishing works on slavery that inspired others to participate in the abolitionist movement and he also participated in the infamous American Anti-Slavery Society(AASS), which Weld greatly improved by implementing an agency called the Seventy within the AASS. Although Theodore Weld’s lectures were very persuasive, his published works and educational approach to spreading abolitionism is more significant due to the effectiveness in advocating and influencing his belief to a wider audience, such as Harriet Stowe and creating a lasting impact by educating the young to continue the anti-slavery movement.

John Brown’s beliefs about slavery and activities to destroy it hardly represented the mainstream of northern society in the years leading up to the Civil War. This rather unique man, however, took a leading role in propelling the nation toward secession and conflict. Many events influenced Brown’s views on slavery from an early age. When he was older, his strong anti-slavery feelings had grown, and he became an extreme abolitionist. His raid on Harpers Ferry was one of the first monumental events leading up to the civil war.

In the 1830s, antislavery underwent an important transformation which led to various abolitionist movements and social reforms. The American Association Organization provided a program which taught information about the gradual emancipation of slaves and exportation of the free to colonies outside the U.S. In January 1831, William Loyd Garrison a successful writer played a vital role in the initiation of the abolitionist crusade after he published the first issue, The Liberator, which brought awareness of the importance of slavery emancipation. The issue not only helped to give awareness to the issue of slavery, but it aided in the motivation of the abolitionist movements. The goal of the

These people were known as abolitionists, popular leaders included Charles G. Finney, William L. Garrison, and Fredrick Douglas. Document 3 features a kneeling black woman whose wrists are bound in chains and she is asking if she is not a woman. It can be interpreted from this document that abolitionists felt that blacks were also people, not property as slave owners felt. Americans were now taking a stand and even succeeded in earning rights for black citizens. The main goal of abolitionists was to end slavery, but they also wanted to prevent slavery spreading into the west. The American Anti-Slavery Society, founded by William L. Garrison in 1833, hung up propaganda opposing slavery to advertise the issues with the mistreatment of blacks. They also signed

A surge of religious revival accompanied the arrival of the abolition movement during the Second Great Awakening. Therefore, the connection between religion and opposition to slavery was extremely strong. This awakening advocated the inner perfection of all men and tried to perfect society as much as possible using social reform. These beliefs led many revivalist protestants to reject slavery as a Christian institution. For example, William Lloyd Garrison, a radical abolitionist produced the “Declaration of Sentiments” in opposition to slavery and its disregard for human rights (Document E).

William Lloyd Garrison was the founder of the Boston Liberator, the “Liberator was a newspaper dedicated to universal and immediate slave emancipation”. The American Anti-Slavery Society batter known as AASS was also cofounded by W.L. Garrison. The American Anti-Slavery Society was devoted to the cause of emancipation as well. (Pg1) “Garrisonians”—as members of the AASS were known— faced threats, ostracism, and even physical violence”. (Pg4) Many abolitionist would travel between the Americas and England during this time frame. W.L. Garrison said, “No wonder the abolitionists looked to England as a safer haven where they could breathe freely”.

When Black abolitionists began to examine the results of moral reform and moral persuasion in the late 1830s and early 1840s, they concluded that the battle for emancipation and quality need new strategies and tactics. Their 'situation was worsening', not improving and hard evidence in black life supportted that claim. The different level of such group to the intellectual, social, and economic force (Woodson,1925, Quaarles, 1969, and Dick 1974). But there was a growing number of white abolitionists will not adopt immediate belief, rejecting what Garrison now called the pernicious doctrine of gradual emancipation.

Slavery was one of the most horrific acts ever instilled on a race of people in world’s history. The history paints a truly horrific picture when blacks were stolen from their homelands, taken away from their families, enslaved and suffered from harsh punishments. The first opposition of practicing slavery in antebellum America takes its origins from the beginning of nineteenth century. The most recognizable abolitionists such as William Lloyd Garrison, George Thompson, David Walker and Frederic Douglass were the first who unfolded the antislavery debates in transnational ways. Their persistent eagerness and appeal to public opinion helped to sow seeds of abolishing slavery in America.

Slavery has been a continuous altercation in abolishing it or keeping it. William Lloyed Garrison preached about abolition of slavery stating that slavery does not define Christians. Slaves have the right to have the same exact rights and freedom as a normal white American. As slavery was still going on, William questions what Christianity has done for our slave population. In a religious point of view, slavery is a national sin that must be removed. William compares how slavery would be for a white person versus an African American and states, “The argument that these white slaves are degraded would not then obtain. You would say: It is enough that they are white and in bondage, and they ought immediately to be set free.” (William Garrison) William sets a growing sense of social responsibilities by trying to get America to look at slavery in the eyes of a Christian. The American society today has drastically changed into everyone

On January 1, 1831, the first issue of the Liberator containing an editorial from Garrison was published. The editorial was addressed to the public and ‘demanded the immediate, unconditional abolition of slavery’ and vowed to use extreme measures to effect a “revolution in public sentiment” (Masur 22-23). Garrison gave warning that he would not compromise or sugar coat his words: “I will be as harsh as truth, and as uncompromising as justice. I am in earnest – I will not equivocate – I will not excuse – I will not retreat a single inch – AND I WILL BE HEARD” (Masur 23). Garrison used the Liberator to voice his ever-increasing radical abolitionist ideas, urging free blacks to accept temperance, religion, and education as a means to further themselves.

The majority of Americans that joined the abolition and woman’s rights movements were from Northern states like Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, with families that were highly religious and of good morals. A strong pro-abolitionist and women’s rights voice in these states came from William Lloyd Garrison. In his “The Liberator”, ^’his ceaseless, uncompromising position on the moral outrage that was slavery made him loved and hated by many Americans’. In 1831 he organized the New England Anti-Slavery Society. And eight years later the American Anti-Slavery Society was established to unify abolitionists from all over the nation.

Reform movements began in order to gain rights such as the abolitionist movement. Abolitionism is the act of ending slavery. William Lloyd Garrison’s newspaper, “The Liberator” called for instant emancipation of slaves. Other influential figures, like Fredrick Douglas was part of the abolitionist movement as well. After Harriet Beecher Stowe’s, “Uncle Toms Cabin” was published, the abolition movement in the North infuriated many. Similarly, the South began individual efforts that opposed abolition. The Herald M Georgia strongly disapproved people in the North, by declaring that Northerners were a “devoid of society fitted for well-bred southern gentleman.” (Doc F). Complications in compromise had risen due to the moral and social division of slavery. Daniel Webster identified the intensity of an issue by saying it was a “moral impossibility” to possess “peaceful secession.” (Doc D). In 1858, Lincoln addressed a serious matter that resulted in a disruption of other political parties. (Doc G). Unfortunately, there was a fall out in compromise as a result of the conflicts concerning

The year was 1850. President Millard Fillmore had signed the Fugitive Slave Act into law, giving southern slave-owners the right to claim slaves they alleged had run away from their property in exchange for the federal government claiming California as a free state. Fillmore would not have signed the act without the pressure created by numerous slave rebellions over the last fifty years, with Nat Turner’s 1831 insurrection in Virginia being one of the most notable. Nevertheless, the law didn’t stop dissidents like John Brown in 1859 or Harriet Tubman from committing civil disobedience: in fact, such actions only strengthened the abolitionist movement and increased the likelihood of a civil war. Some of their supporters identified as transcendentalists, or writers and philosophers who believed that by looking to nature, a divine creation, society could solve its problems. In effect, they believed that because African-Americans were also God’s creatures, they too had agency. Three iconic writers associated with the movement made up for their financial failures as writers to become influential volunteers and activists that educated the American public about the repugnant nature of slavery, effectively rallying them to support their cause and the preservation of the Union.