Abolitionists

Name: edHelper Abolitionists What does it mean to abolish something? It means to get rid of it, stamp it out, or destroy it. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, a movement began among people from all walks of life. They were the Abolitionists, and they wanted to get rid of slavery. One of the first groups of people to become vocal about the plight of slaves and the need to abolish slavery was the Quakers. Many were already involved in helping every slave who asked. They would provide food, shelter, and education, teaching them skills like reading and writing. Since slavery had been common until the 19th century, many people did not have any real idea what the life of a slave was like. In 1833, the American Anti-Slavery Society was founded in Philadelphia. The group was led by William Lloyd Garrison. They pledged to abolish slavery in the United States, believing that it was against natural law. Abolitionists took it upon themselves to educate the public. They produced a steady stream of published material. This included speeches, sermons, memoirs of former slaves, newspapers, children's materials, and books. The most well known book was Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe. She wrote it in 1852 after listening to the stories told her by Josiah Henson, her model of Uncle Tom. Former slaves, like Frederick Douglass, toured the Northern states telling about their personal experiences as slaves. Their stories opened the eyes of many people, and membership in the Anti-Slavery Society swelled. In two years, there were 400 chapters. In five years, it had grown to 1,350 with at least 250,000 members. Many Southerners saw the Abolitionist movement as a direct assault on their way of life. Their only hope to stave off a major change was through political power. They looked to the territories as a way to maintain their lifestyle. At first territories were designated as Slave or Free states. Now it was up to the popular vote of the people living in that territory. When Kansas became available, both slave owners and Abolitionists rushed to settle it. The violent struggle which followed gave the territory the name of Bloody Kansas. One man who typified the more radical side of the anti-slave movement was John Brown. His name is forever linked to the raid on Harper's Ferry. He decided to try to force a change, even if it meant killing. After the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 was put into force, more people joined the Abolitionist movement. The injustice directed toward the slaves only polarized the two groups further. It spurred the more moderate members of the anti-slavery groups to step forward. They were now willing to break the law in order to do what they thought was right, and they did. Their goals were accomplished partially in 1863 with the Emancipation Name: edHelper Proclamation. Then it was completely accomplished in 1865 with the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It granted freedom to every slave. The Abolitionists prized the idea of universal human freedom. While only a small portion of African slaves were sold in the United States, their captivity became a rallying point in the quest for freedom. Abolitionists Questions 1. Why would ex-slaves be so active in the anti-slavery movement? 2. Why would a fictional story about an old slave become a best selling book? 3. Who was the model for Uncle Tom in the book Uncle Tom's Cabin? A. Josiah Henson B. Frederick Douglass C. H. Beecher Stowe D. John Brown 4. If slavery was a viable choice for getting a labor force, why did people become passionate about abolishing it? A. The slaves were not treated well B. The former slaves told emotional stories C. It was a symbol of oppression D. They finally understood what slavery did to people 5. Kansas' status as a Slave or Free State was to rest on popular sovereignty, and it resulted in violence. What might have been a better solution? 6. John Brown was a radical Abolitionist whose actions helped his cause. A. True B. False Name: edHelper 7. The word "polarized" means, A. Arms length B. Became close C. Far apart as possible D. Like 8. What one thing was the culmination of the Abolitionist's efforts? A. Twelfth Amendment B. Thirteenth Amendment C. Fourteenth Amendment D. Eleventh Amendment.

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