The Abolitionist Movement

Claudine L. Ferrell

• Publisher: Greenwood
• Year: 2005
• Print ISBN: 9780313331800
• eBook ISBN: 9780313021183
• Edition: 1
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: North American History
• Index: History

The abolitionists of the 1830s-1850s risked physical harm and social alienation as a result of their refusal to ignore what they considered a national sin, contrary to the ideals upon which America was founded. Derived from the moral accountability called for by the Great Awakening and the Quaker religion, the abolitionist movement demanded not just the gradual dismantling of the system or a mandated political end to slavery, but an end to prejudice in the hearts of the American people. Primary documents, illustrations and biographical sketches of notable figures illuminate the conflicted struggle to end slavery in America. Some called them fanatics; others called them liberators and saints. Immeasurable though their ultimate impact may have been, the abolitionists of the 1830s-1850s risked physical harm and social alienation as a result of their refusal to ignore what they considered a national sin, contrary to the ideals upon which America was founded. Derived from the moral accountability called for by the Great Awakening and the Quaker religion, the abolitionist movement demanded not just the gradual dismantling of the system or a mandated political end to slavery, but an end to prejudice in the hearts of the American people. Claudine Farrell's concluding essay draws parallels between the abolitionists' struggles and the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s-1970s, demonstrating the significant amount of ground being gained in a still-unfinished war. Five narrative chapters explore the abolitionist movement's religious beginnings, the conflict between moral justice and union preservation, and the revolts, divisions and conflicts leading up to the Civil War. Biographical portraits of such notable figures as Frederick Douglass, William Lloyd Garrison, and the Grimke sisters supplement the discussion, and selections from some of the most influential documents in American history—including the Emancipation Proclamation, the US Constitution, and The Writings of Thomas Jefferson —provide actual historical evidence of the events. Twelve illustrations, a chronology, index and extensive annotated bibliography make this an ideal starting point for students looking to understand the battle for and against slavery in America.

Table of contents

• Contents
• Series Foreword
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Chronology of Events
• Chapter 1 Historical Overview
• Chapter 2 “In Matters of Right and Equity”: From Quakers to Revolution
• Chapter 3 “Justice Is in One Scale, and Self-Preservation in the Other”: Slavery and Anti-Slavery in the New Nation
• Chapter 4 “Though the Heavens Should Fall”: Abolitionism Takes Shape—The 1830s
• Chapter 5 “Contrary to the Laws of God and the Rights of Man”: Politics versus Spirituality—The 1840s
• Chapter 6 “The Storm, the Whirlwind, and the Earthquake”: From Politics and Violence to Freedom—The 1850s–1860s
• Chapter 7 Concluding Interpretive Essay
• Biographies: Personalities of the Abolitionist Movement
• Primary Documents of Abolitionism
• Annotated Bibliography
• Index
• Photographs follow page 86.