The Abolitionists: Film Analysis

The goal of the abolitionist movement was to achieve immediate emancipation for all slaves in the United States and to end the discrimination of African Americans in the United States (Foner, Give Me Liberty 445). Of the many leaders of the abolitionist movement, some of the prominent leaders were David Walker, William Lloyd Garrison, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Frederick Douglass and John Brown. Different abolitionists used different methods to achieve their mutual goal of achieving emancipation of all slaves. During a time when slavery was thriving, their idea was regarded by many as completely absurd; but it was this absurd idea that freed the people of America.

We all realize during this day and age that slavery was just a terrible historical event in the United States during the early periods and there was a movement of Abolitionism that attempted to rid the United States of slavery. Abolitionist came from several walks of life. There were hundreds of abolitionist as well but some were at the forefront of this movement.

During the mid 1800’s, slavery was a large problem in southern America. The slaves were underclassmen who had no rights, were treated terribly, and were often harshly punished. Many African Americans were angered with the poor treatment, and could not do anything about it. Change was in order, but America had not made any changes. That is until Frederick Douglass, an escape-slave, spoke at a large Fourth of July celebration in Rochester, New York about slavery in the United States. Frederick Douglass was once a slave in the South, but he was able to escape to Northern America, where he worked as a laborer to make a living for himself. Douglass was then able to buy his own freedom within the United States, enabling him to start a newspaper column supporting the anti-slavery movement. He wrote about the lack of rights African slaves had and what could be done differently within the United States. Until one day he was able to finally tell everyone the truth about America and the African American slaves during his speech. Frederick Douglass supports the theme that all people should have the same independence rights in his speech “The Hypocrisy of American Slavery” with the use allusions and repetition.

Unfortunately before during this time, the slave population was growing rapidly, by almost 50,000 slaves each year. Most abolitionists came from cities and factory towns in the North, but some came from the upper South. One of the abolitionist’s main goal was to reach the “highest moral ideals of the Revolutionary generation. At first, the abolitionists just tried to convince the slaveholders of how immoral slavery was through newspapers, tracts, and circulated petitions. Abolitionists claimed that slavery had disobeyed the Declaration of Independence, because slaves were not allowed the right to

On July 5th, 1952, Frederick Douglass addressed the ladies of the Rochester Anti-Slavery Sewing society in his famous speech, titled “What to the slave is the fourth of July?” 1 In this address, Douglass points out the hypocrisies between the principles of the American Constitution and the way in which American society functioned at the time. Prior to this speech, his early experiences, friendships, and observations of different aspects of society pushed him to advocate for the participation of blacks in American democracy and freedom, and later in opposition to the many voices within the abolitionist movement that argued for the opposite. While Douglass saw the blatant contradictions between the words of the Revolution and the way in which marginalized groups were treated by most of the ruling white-male population, he was by no means against the principles outlined within the Declaration of Independence or the United States as a nation. Douglass’s thought was very much an olive branch between the ruling white class and the enslaved and disenfranchised black population. His self-made story, inspiring influences, and determination to promote American freedom amongst the many evil aspects in the country he lived in made him one of the most important intellectual figures in the road to abolishing slavery.

William Lloyd Garrison was not the first abolitionist, but he was the best known leader of the movement which called for the immediate end to slavery. Garrison attacked the morality of slavery and attacked anyone who condoned or enabled it. His views were very unpopular in all parts of the nation, not just the South. Garrison's life was constantly threatened. He was yelled at by opponents and was even dragged through the streets of Boston with a rope around his neck.

The Abolitionist movement in the United States of America was an effort to end slavery in a nation that valued personal freedom and believed "all men are created equal." Over time, abolitionists grew more strident in their demands, and slave owners entrenched in response, fueling regional divisiveness that ultimately led to the American Civil War.

During the time period of the mid 1800’s there was a great deal of growing tension between the northern and southern states. Many northerners were abolitionists and were anti slavery, the northerners didn’t want to outlaw slavery completely but wanted to put an end to slavery expansion. The south on the other hand was very against this and wanted for slavery to continue to flourish for the economical gains and trade with other foreign nations. Slavery was a cheap source of labor that allowed for many wealthy southern

The abolitionist movement targeted one very controversial act, the act of using slaves. These slaves were brought to North America through the use of Slave trade, which was the process of trading and/or selling African people as slaves to various countries. The first sight of African slavery in North America was in Jamestown, Virginia in 1619. From that initial integration of slaves in North America the slave trade grew exponentially. From this growth of the slave trade the slaves gathered to break the mold they were in which was slavery. The southern portion of the states grew their economy through the use of slaves, which allowed people to increase the amount of slaves they have bought. This was a huge political issue when the slave trade began, this is because the constitution not only protected American rights, but human rights in general. So for governments to go against the constitution was

The case affected the Abolitionist movement by showing people that Africans are people too. The abolitionist were anti-slavery and also known as Quakers. They provided support in finical and moral supports for the Africans. Some famous Quakers had unique opinions on how the case showed have been handled.

The goal of the abolitionist movement to look into the slaves condition and to end the racial discrimination and segregation. Number of abolitionists participated before Civil War for abolitionist movement and they fought against slavery conditions. By 1830s, the abolitionists Theodore D. Weld, William Lloyd Garrison, Arthur and Lewis Tappan, and Elizur Wright, Jr. put their efforts to reduce the slavery conditions of African-American as they supported to free African-American and played prominent role in the movement. They all races their voice against races and genders inequality for that they met Philadelphia and found the Anti-Slavery Society. Their goal was to determine slavery as sin that should be eliminated immediately, encouraged people

In the United States of America during the 1830s-1840s, abolitionists tried to find the most effective way to put slavery to an end because they believed it was wrong and it was on a rise. Henry Highland Garnet believed that aggressive action was the most successful way to end slavery, while William Whipper believed nonviolence was the solution. After reading information from both sides, it is clear that aggressive action was the most effective way to end slavery.

The Abolitionists shows a long journey of ending the slavery. How they fought for the freedom for slaves and how they scarify what they had in the way of the human being equality. This documentary helps people to think about the long process that some people toke and they put their life in danger everyday by speaking against slavery. They main point of this story is in these people: Frederick Douglass, William Lloyd Garrison, Angelina Grimke, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and John Brown. Angelina Grimke was from a famous family in South Carolina. Each member of her family had their own slave but Angelina broke slave owning from her family. She was thinking that slavery is sin and God will punish the person who has slave. In 1829 she moved to North and she

The antislavery movement was led by abolitionists of both races and genders who hoped to emancipate all slaves and end racial discrimination in the United States. Such a task required these individuals to work together and employ different methods for spreading their ideas and reaching the people. As many abolitionists became disappointed with the progress of the movement, many began to change their methods and policies; this caused a split, with large ramifications, amongst those at the center of the abolitionist movement.

In 12 Years A Slave (2013), directed by Steve McQueen, the audience is provided with an understanding of characters, place and main character’s experience through mise-en-scene and cinematography. 12 Years a Slave surrounds a black man named Solomon Northup, who was sold into slavery in the 1850’s. It is a graphic retelling of a slave’s existence in Louisiana. The specific sequence used for analysis is one where Northup attempts to escape, but stumbles upon a lynching ritual. By use of cinematography and mise-en-scene, Steve McQueen allows the audience to view slavery in its every day format, and learn that this part of history was simply a reality.