11-5
Introduction to Abolitionism
Transition from gradual abolition to immediatism
Belief in gradual abolition until realization of its shortcomings.
Comparison with the concept of being 'born again' in religious contexts.
Moving from passivity to active engagement in abolition.
Review of Previous Topic
Inquiries regarding last lecture and references made to media about Nat Turner.
Mention of previous availability of Nat Turner documentary on platforms like YouTube.
Politics of Abolition
Gradual abolition as an approach to end slavery slowly.
Formation of the American Colonization Society in 1817 by Robert Finley.
Objective: To return freed African Americans to Africa and teach them skills.
Purchase of land in Liberia by Finley in 1821 to facilitate this.
Number of African Americans moved to Liberia between 1821-1860: approximately 15,000.
Opposition to colonization by African American leaders such as James Fortin.
Fortin advocates for gradual abolition, which respects property rights of slaveholders.
Emergence of Immediatism
The Great Awakening catalyzes a new abolition movement demanding immediate abolition of slavery.
Argument that slavery is sinful and should be abolished immediately without compensation to slave owners.
William Lloyd Garrison's launch of The Liberator in 1831, demanding moral change in the nation.
Accusations by the South against Garrison for allegedly inciting slave rebellion after Nat Turner’s incident.
Garrison's stance: no compromises; advocacy for immediate abolition.
American Antislavery Society
Founding in 1833 by Arthur and Lewis Tappan, rich New York merchants.
Stance on equality: blacks and whites should have equal civil, religious, and political rights.
Propaganda campaigns utilizing pamphlets, lectures, and events to raise awareness.
Paternalistic rhetoric prevalent in abolition discussions, treating blacks as 'simple souls' learning from whites.
Parallels drawn with modern perceptions of Native Americans as environmental saviors.
Role of African Americans in abolition movement treated with patronism.
Example: Frederick Douglass, born a slave, escaped, and became a powerful speaker and writer.
Notable quote: "I appear before this immense assembly this evening as a thief and a robber. I stole this head, these limbs, this body from master and ran off with them."
Harriet Tubman's contributions as an escaped slave and underground railroad strategist, helping slaves escape.
Opposition to Abolition
Northern perceptions of abolitionists as troublemakers exacerbating North-South tensions.
Fear of amalgamation: interracial marriage weakening the white race.
Economic competition fears: worries that freed blacks would take away jobs.
Concerns about potential race wars with freed slaves.
Key Figures in Opposition
Prudence Crandall, a Quaker school teacher in Connecticut, opened a boarding school for black girls in 1833.
Faced harassment, violence, and ultimately closure of her school.
Elijah Lovejoy, a printer in Alton, Illinois, published an anti-slavery newspaper.
Murdered by a mob protecting his printing press in the 1830s.
Defense of Slavery
Southern justifications for the enslavement system in response to rising abolitionist sentiments.
Historical defense: slavery has always existed in human societies.
Biblical defense: references to Biblical texts, such as the sons of Ham and Pauline letters.
Scientific defense: arguments of racial inferiority.
Practical defense: concerns voiced by Thomas Jefferson regarding the consequences of abolishing slavery.
Notable metaphor by Jefferson: "Slavery is like having a wolf by the ears. If you let go, it eats off your face."
George Fitzhugh's arguments in 1850s: defending slavery as more humane than wage labor in the North.
Assertion that enslaved individuals are happy and well cared for as compared to factory workers.
Impact of Political Parties
The structure of national political parties (Whigs and Democrats) initially maintains unity.
Shift towards sectionalism leads to civil war aftermath, particularly post-1860 election.
Gag Rules and Political Strategy
In 1833, British Parliament abolishes slavery with compensation to slave owners.
Tappan brothers aspire to influence U.S. reforms, seeing British actions as a model.
Tactics of American Antislavery Society focused on submitting petitions to Congress demanding an end to slavery.
Gag rules emerged, prohibiting debate over abolition petitions in Congress to avoid sectional conflict.
The Liberty Party
Formed by abolitionists in response to the gag rules, arguing for civil liberties.
Campaigns to engage in political debate on slavery, running a presidential candidate in 1840.
The term
Introduction to Abolitionism
Transition from gradual abolition to immediatism
Belief in gradual abolition until realization of its shortcomings.
Comparison with the concept of being 'born again' in religious contexts.
Moving from passivity to active engagement in abolition.
Review of Previous Topic
Inquiries regarding last lecture and references made to media about Nat Turner.
Mention of previous availability of Nat Turner documentary on platforms like YouTube.
Politics of Abolition
Gradual abolition as an approach to end slavery slowly.
Formation of the American Colonization Society in 1817 by Robert Finley.
Objective: To return freed African Americans to Africa and teach them skills.
Purchase of land in Liberia by Finley in 1821 to facilitate this.
Number of African Americans moved to Liberia between 1821-1860: approximately 15,000.
Opposition to colonization by African American leaders such as James Fortin.
Fortin advocates for gradual abolition, which respects property rights of slaveholders.
Emergence of Immediatism
The Great Awakening catalyzes a new abolition movement demanding immediate abolition of slavery.
Argument that slavery is sinful and should be abolished immediately without compensation to slave owners.
William Lloyd Garrison's launch of The Liberator in 1831, demanding moral change in the nation.
Accusations by the South against Garrison for allegedly inciting slave rebellion after Nat Turner
's incident.
Garrison's stance: no compromises; advocacy for immediate abolition.
American Antislavery Society
Founding in 1833 by Arthur and Lewis Tappan, rich New York merchants.
Stance on equality: blacks and whites should have equal civil, religious, and political rights.
Propaganda campaigns utilizing pamphlets, lectures, and events to raise awareness.
Paternalistic rhetoric prevalent in abolition discussions, treating blacks as 'simple souls' learning from whites.
Parallels drawn with modern perceptions of Native Americans as environmental saviors.
Role of African Americans in abolition movement treated with patronism.
Example: Frederick Douglass, born a slave, escaped, and became a powerful speaker and writer.
Notable quote: "I appear before this immense assembly this evening as a thief and a robber. I stole this head, these limbs, this body from master and ran off with them."
Harriet Tubman's contributions as an escaped slave and underground railroad strategist, helping slaves escape.
Opposition to Abolition
Northern perceptions of abolitionists as troublemakers exacerbating North-South tensions.
Fear of amalgamation: interracial marriage weakening the white race.
Economic competition fears: worries that freed blacks would take away jobs.
Concerns about potential race wars with freed slaves.
Key Figures in Opposition
Prudence Crandall, a Quaker school teacher in Connecticut, opened a boarding school for black girls in 1833.
Faced harassment, violence, and ultimately closure of her school.
Elijah Lovejoy, a printer in Alton, Illinois, published an anti-slavery newspaper.
Murdered by a mob protecting his printing press in the 1830s.
Defense of Slavery
Southern justifications for the enslavement system in response to rising abolitionist sentiments.
Historical defense: slavery has always existed in human societies.
Biblical defense: references to Biblical texts, such as the sons of Ham and Pauline letters.
Scientific defense: arguments of racial inferiority.
Practical defense: concerns voiced by Thomas Jefferson regarding the consequences of abolishing slavery.
Notable metaphor by Jefferson: "Slavery is like having a wolf by the ears. If you let go, it eats off your face."
George Fitzhugh's arguments in 1850s: defending slavery as more humane than wage labor in the North.
Assertion that enslaved individuals are happy and well cared for as compared to factory workers.
Impact of Political Parties
The structure of national political parties (Whigs and Democrats) initially maintains unity.
Shift towards sectionalism leads to civil war aftermath, particularly post-1860 election.
Gag Rules and Political Strategy
In 1833, British Parliament abolishes slavery with compensation to slave owners.
Tappan brothers aspire to influence U.S. reforms, seeing British actions as a model.
Tactics of American Antislavery Society focused on submitting petitions to Congress demanding an end to slavery.
Gag rules emerged, prohibiting debate over abolition petitions in Congress to avoid sectional conflict.
The Liberty Party
Formed by abolitionists in response to the gag rules, arguing for civil liberties.
Campaigns to engage in political debate on slavery, running a presidential candidate in 1840.
The party was founded by abolitionists who believed in achieving their goals through political action, contrasting with William Lloyd Garrison's more radical moral suasion approach.
Key figures: Included James G. Birney, who ran as their presidential candidate in both 1840 and 1844.
Platform: Advocated for the immediate abolition of slavery through constitutional means and federal legislation, emphasizing the unconstitutionality of slavery and the need to restore civil liberties to enslaved people.
Goals: Aimed to bring the issue of slavery into mainstream politics and pressure existing parties to take a stronger stance against it.
While it never gained widespread electoral success, the Liberty Party demonstrated the growing political division over slavery and paved the way for future anti-slavery parties like the Free-Soil Party and ultimately the Republican Party.