Abolitionists Objective 2.06

Objective 2.06 Evaluate the role of religion in the debate over slavery and other social movements and issues.

What is abolition? The movement to end slavery

Abolitionists William Lloyd Garrison Sarah and Angelina Grimke David Walker Frederick Douglas Charles Grandison Finney

William Lloyd Garrison Radical white abolitionist Religious reformer Started The Liberator in 1831 – antislavery newspaper – demanded immediate emancipation

W. Garrison (continued) Founded New England Antislavery Society in 1832 Next year, American Antislavery Society Hated by many whites

Emancipation Freeing of slaves without payment to slaveholders

David Walker Free black man Wrote Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World Advised blacks to fight for freedom rather than wait for slave owners to end slavery.

Frederick Douglass Former slave (b. 1817) Escaped to New York Read The Liberator Hired by Garrison to speak for American Anti-Slavery Society

Frederick Douglass (continued) Hoped that abolition could be achieved through political actions Broke w/ Garrison in 1847 Published his own abolitionist paper – The North Star

“Right is of no Sex – Truth is of no Color – God is the father of us all, and we are all Brethren”

Sarah and Angelina Grimke Spoke out against slavery and gender inequality Daughters of a SC planter Exiled for their work

Charles G. Finney 2nd Great Awakening Spoke against slavery as morally wrong

Life Under Slavery Roughly 2 million slaves in America by 1830

Slavery South’s “Peculiar Institution” Slaves supplied about a 10 percent return on their cost Heyday of British textiles gone by 1860, but South locked into Cotton

Slavery Middle class whites feared that freed slaves would compete with them for land Pregnant slaves given less work and more food. Some new slave mothers rewarded with dresses and silver dollars. Women expected to do “man’s work” Celia’s Story

Rural Slavery By 1850, most slaves worked on large plantations

Urban Slavery In cities, some slaves worked in specialized industries Douglass – city slave “almost a freeman” compared to a slave on the plantation

Nat Turner’s Rebellion Virginia slave – believed that he had been chosen to lead his people out of slavery (eclipse) 1831 – his band attacked 4 plantations Killed almost 60 whites As many as 200 blacks killed in retaliation

Reaction to Nat Turner’s Rebellion? Virginia legislature debates emancipation 1832 – loses by 73 – 58 vote Fear of future slave revolts led to lack of education and privilege for slaves

Slavery Defenses Some proslavery advocates used the Bible to defend slavery Passages counseling servants to “obey masters” “Positive Good” – theory that blacks benefited from slavery Better than life was in Africa?

Slavery Defenses (continued) Myth of the happy slave on a plantation compared to a northern wage slave

Debate? 1836 – gag rule – limited or prevented debate on an issue (slavery) Repealed in 1844