Abolitionists Movement

Abolitionists Movement

Students will analyze the growth of the abolitionist movement in the 1830s and the slaveholding states’ view of the movement as a physical, economic and political threat.

Poll

Godzilla or King Kong?

• Godzilla

• King Kong

Fight for Freedom

Opposition to slavery in North America dates to slavery’s beginnings there. Enslaved men and women were constantly seeking ways to use the religious and civil values espoused by enslavers to argue for their own freedom.

No Traction

Indigenous people in the early British and Spanish colonies tried to use the courts to gain freedom, but few succeeded. 

Some colonists argued for abolition very early, including Bartolomé de las Casas in the 16th-century Spanish colonies and some white Quakers in 18th-century British colonies.

Multiple Choice

What determined a victory in a court case for someone arguing their freedom?

• Related to someone that was free and practiced Christianity.

• Born from a free person and practiced Christianity.

• Considered Wealthy and practiced Christianity.

Language of the Revolution

During the Revolution, many enslaved people actively sought their freedom by escaping to the British or by adopting the language of inalienable rights and challenging white American colonists to live up to their liberty-loving rhetoric.

Against Abolition

Many prominent white people, including Thomas Jefferson and James Madison (both enslavers), thought slavery would eventually end but did not support abolition. In the early 19th century, they joined a majority of white Americans supporting the removal of African Americans to Africa. 

Multiple Choice

Why did many enslaved people actively escape to the British during the American Revolution?

• Because British parliament guaranteed Emancipation if they won

• Because it meant adopting inalienable rights and liberty

• Because George Washington did not allow African American's to join his army.

American Colonization Society

The American Colonization Society raised money to facilitate this removal, which they said would include both free and enslaved African Americans. African American opposition to the American Colonization Society was part of a new, centralized movement to promote abolition and work toward citizenship rights.

William Loyd Garrison

 William Lloyd Garrison and black allies launched the radical abolitionist movement in 1831 using the ideas of all of these predecessors. Garrison began promoting immediate abolition as an alternative to gradual emancipation or colonization.

Multiple Choice

What was the name of the newspaper William Lloyd Garrison published to promote the abolitionist movement?

• The Liberator

• The Abolitionist

• The Freedom Writer

• The Great Awakening

Abolition Societies

White women and free black Northerners, many of whom also opposed the Indian Removal Act, were among the largest groups represented in Northern abolitionist societies.  Influential advocates included Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, many others who had escaped enslavement and the publishers of many black newspapers.

Against Abolition

Many prominent white people, including Thomas Jefferson and James Madison (both enslavers), thought slavery would eventually end but did not support abolition. In the early 19th century, they joined a majority of white Americans supporting the removal of African Americans to Africa. 

Multiple Choice

Responsible for launching the radical abolitionists movement in 1831.

• Harriet Tubman

• Loyd Garrison

• Frederick Douglas

• Colonel Tye