1. The Abolitionist Movement, 1831-1860

2. The Second Great Awakening
Religious revival The Second Great Awakening, s Joined all types of people in a common effort to give up sin Revival meetings were entertaining Millennialism and perfectionism Some Americans thought this meant the nation should give up slavery

3. Anti Slavery forces in early America
Active since the 1750s Abolished slavery in the Northern states Early efforts were relatively conservative Gradual emancipation Avoid social and economic dislocation Compensate slave owners

4. The American colonization society
Took a slow, careful approach to emancipation Founded in 1817 Send former slaves to Liberia Supporters had various motives Some hated slavery but believed the races could not live together Some supported slavery And hoped to deport free blacks The ACS send few black people to Africa

5. Abolitionism experiences a dramatic transformation
January 1, 1831 The Liberator -- an abolitionist newspaper William Lloyd Garrison First abolitionist newspaper to call for an immediate end to slavery No support in the South Made few concessions to slaveholders Opposed compensation and colonization

6. Garrison held radical views on race
Garrison believed in Racial equality
Greeted slaves as “sister” and “brother”

7. The abolitionist movement becomes more combative
Garrison’s ideas made antislavery less compromising
The movement becomes almost exclusively northern and Midwestern
New England, upstate New York, New York City, Ohio, Pennsylvania
Harsh rhetoric alienates southerners

8. Immediatism defined
The term “immediate” was never clearly defined by Garrison Seldom insisted that they be freed all at once Insisted slave owners renounce slavery and begin the process of emancipation They knew that both slave and master needed time

9. The Role of free blacks
Free Blacks played a major role in abolition Early advocates of immediate abolition Early opponents of colonization The majority (75%) of the subscribers to the Liberator were black Slavery was an intolerable insult to their race No black was truly “free” Escaped slaves had firsthand knowledge and made effective propagandists

10. Leading Black abolitionists
Some of the most important abolitionists were Black Frederick Douglass Sojourner Truth Harriet Tubman John B. Russwurm Henry Highland Garnet

11. Leading white abolitionists
Important white abolitionists include William Lloyd Garrison Theodore Dwight Weld Sarah and Angelina Grimké Lewis and Arthur Tappan James G. Birney

12. White abolitionists were religious
Deeply religious Middle class Spoke of slavery as a “sin” Spoke of “redemption” for those who freed their slaves Slavery violated America’s core political and religious principles

13. American anti-slavery society -- 1833
Denounced slavery as a sin Immediate abolition Endorsed nonviolence Condemned racial prejudice 1835 – Hundreds of branches around North Published literature Sponsored lectures Petitioned Congress

14. Abolitionists split -- 1840
Moderates Push for change thru politics Liberty Party, 1840 and 1844 Radicals Led by Garrison Talk of secession “No Union with Slaveholders” Burns copy of the United States Constitution

15. Abolitionism – a minority movement
Only 2% of Americans were joined abolitionists organizations
Most Americans were white supremacists
Abolitionists were attacked in the North and South

16. Southerners (Over) react
See abolitionism as a threat to their way of life Southerners exaggerate strength of abolitionism Link abolitionism to slave uprisings Mount strong defense of slavery Censor mail Gag rule Argue that slavery is “a positive good.” Good for master and slave Talk of secession – “fire eaters”