The Abolitionist Movement A Look Into the Struggle to Let the Slaves Free

Objective By the end of the lesson, SWBAT explain the beliefs of the abolitionists before the U.S. Civil War.

Lightning Round Review! Before the Civil War, was the North urban or rural? What does that mean? Before the Civil War, was the South urban or rural? What does that mean? Did the North or the South have slavery before the Civil War? Why?

Background Vocabulary: Abolitionist - A person that was against slavery and wanted it to become abolished.

Why Abolitionists? Why would the people in the North care about slavery that is happening in the South?

Why Abolitionists? Many people heard about the abuses of the Plantation owners. Many people thought slavery was against the ideas of their religion.

Abuses

Religion/Christianity A lot of priests in the North told people that Slavery was against what the Bible said was right.

Books and Pamphlets In the 1850’s the abolitionist movement really took off. People wrote books, pamphlets, and fliers about how bad slavery was and how it needed to be illegal and abolished.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin ‘s Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote a famous book called Uncle Tom’s Cabin. This book was a story about a family of slaves that were split up and sold to different plantation owners. The book put a face on slavery and made it real for many people in the North. It helped create abolitionists!

Uncle Tom’s Cabin How would you feel if you were a slave and you were split up from your family?

Uncle Tom’s Cabin

Uncle Tom’s Cabin Quote! "Yes Eliza, it's all misery, misery, misery! My life is bitter as wormwood; the very life is burning out of me. I'm a poor, miserable, forlorn drudge; I shall only drag you down with me, that's all. What's the use of our trying to do anything, trying to know anything, trying to be anything? What's the use of living? I wish I was dead!"

Raid on Harper’s Ferry John Brown was a HUGE abolitionist. He got so upset with slavery he decided that he was going to take on slavery by himself.

Raid on Harper’s Ferry With the help of 22 other abolitionists, including 5 Black freed slaves, John Brown stormed a weapons arsenal in the town of Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia. The group got a hold of lots of guns and they wanted to use them to give to slaves so they could start a revolt and fight for their freedom!

Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia

Raid on Harper’s Ferry John Brown did not get too far. The nearby town of Charles Town heard about the group and the locals managed to fight them back. The army then came in and forced the surrender of John Brown and his men. John Brown was charged with treason and was hung.

Raid on Harper’s Ferry

Raid on Harper’s Ferry How do you think abolitionists reacted to hearing about the hanging of John Brown?

Raid on Harper’s Ferry The news about John Brown spread like wildfire in the North! His heroic actions inspired many people to join the abolitionist movement!

Other Famous Abolitionists William Lloyd Garrison wrote an antislavery newspaper called The Liberator. Frederick Douglas, a former slave, was a very famous black abolitionist. Sojourner Truth preached against slavery and attracted big crowds in the North!

Conclusion The Abolitionist movement took off in the North in the 1850’s because of people like Harriet Beecher Stowe and John Brown. The North became really against slavery and the South felt really threatened.

Dear Southern Slave Owner Now it’s your turn! You are going to write a letter to a Southern slave owner trying to persuade him/her to give up his/her slaves. Your letter should bring up a lot of facts about why slavery is wrong. Make sure you letter has a good tone - you want to convince the slave owner not scare them!