Elijah Lovejoy's Fight for Freedom Author Jennifer Phillips jenniferphillipsauthor.com

Who Was Elijah Lovejoy? Teacher Newspaper editor Minister Abolitionist & social reformer Husband Father Son

Why Is He a Part of History? He spoke out against slavery early, publicly and constantly -- before many people would do so and while it was very dangerous He died while fighting off a mob trying to destroy the printing press he used to protest slavery He’s believed to have been the first white person killed defending the rights of slaves The country changed because of his death; slavery became an issue no longer ignored or explained away; this made people all over the country pay attention to abolitionist ideas

Signs of the Times Example of Elijah’s Newspaper Example of Slave Auction Ad

This is the only official image of Elijah. Creating silhouettes was popular in the 1800s.

After Elijah’s death, an artist used his silhouette and firsthand descriptions from friends and family to create this sketch in his memory.

Things to Know About Elijah Born in 1802 in Maine (how old would he be today?) First became a teacher, then became a newspaper editor, then a minister + editor Traveled through the wilderness 1,200 miles from Maine to Missouri, when he was 24 years old, walking most of the way! Believed in the “power of the press” to speak out about things he thought were wrong Wasn’t always against slavery, but he became upset as he saw how slaves in Missouri were treated and thought more about the issue

Elijah’s Long Trek What the country looked like in1830, three years after his trip from Maine to Illinois States Unorganized territories Claimed areas Organized territories Elijah’s journey

What Was He Like? Gentle, quiet, loving and affectionate in person Fiery, non-apologetic, sometimes insulting in his writings Fell in love and got married when he was 33 years old, later became a father Stubborn and determined and courageousDeeply religious

What Happened to Him? He printed no-nonsense articles about the wrongs of slavery He defended his right to free speech, saying he was protected by the U.S. and state constitutions He moved across the river from St. Louis, Missouri to Alton, Illinois after trouble began, hoping he and his family would be safer He lost three printing presses to angry mobs, who broke them apart and threw them in the Mississippi River He had his life threatened over and over

Then, things got even worse.

“If I fall, my grave shall be made in Alton.” -Elijah explaining to a crowd two days before his death that he could not stop speaking out against slavery even with threats being made

The Final Showdown in 1837 Fourth printing press arrives in Alton by steamboat in middle of night Elijah and his friends guard it in a warehouse Word spreads and an angry mob forms Shots are fired from both sides, the warehouse set on fire Elijah is shot five times and killed; the mob destroys the press, declares victory

Buried on his 35 th Birthday “The next morning the bloody remains of our brother, were removed by a few friends from the warehouse to his dwelling, and as the hearse moved slowly along through the street, it was saluted with jeers and scoffs…” - Journal entry from Elijah’s brother Owen

What Happened Then Some said Elijah was a trouble-maker and deserved his fate Some said he was a martyr who died for a worthy cause The public asked lawmakers for more protection against mobs (this eventually led to the 14th amendment of the constitution) Anti-slavery groups spread, other newspapers became bolder about speaking out 26 years later: slavery was abolished

What Do You Think? Elijah was a social reformer: someone who focuses on ways society needs to change to become a better society Elijah fought for three types of freedom: Freedom from slavery Freedom of speech Freedom from punishment by private citizens Q. Have you had to find the courage to speak out against something you thought was unfair or unjust, even if your opinion wasn’t popular? Q. Does everyone have these freedoms today? Is social reform still needed? In the U.S.? In the world?

What can we do to keep Elijah’s beliefs alive?