Ch. 14.4– The Movement to End Slavery

Vocabulary

Abolition – a complete end to slavery

American Anti-Slavery Society – group whose members wanted immediate emancipation and racial

equality for African Americans

Undergrown Railroad – NOT an actual railroad, but a network of people who arranged transportation and

hiding place for fugitives (escaped slaves)

1. Recreate the chart in your notes and fill it in as you read.

Person or Group & Leaders / Goal / Accomplishments/Effects
Quakers / Challenged abolition on religious grounds (equality)
American Colonization Society / Wanted to establish colonies of free slaves in Africa – to prevent racial conflict in US / Liberia – colony in west Africa – but colonization movement eventually ended
William Lloyd Garrison / Immediate emancipation and racial equality for African Americans / Published abolitionist newspaper The Liberator founded American Anti-Slavery Society
Sarah and Angelina Grimke / SC slave-holding family disagreed with slavery / Recruited other white southern women in pamphlet “Appeal to the Christian Women of the South”
Book – American Slavery As It Is – 1 of most important anti-slavery works
Fredrick Douglass / Former slave – one of most important African American leaders of the time- public speaking / Speaking tours in US and Europe
Published abolitionist newspaper The North Star; wrote several autobiographies showing injustices of slavery
Sojourner Truth / Former slave - / Preached about abolition and women’s rights- legendary for fiery and dramatic speeches – most famous is “Ain’t I a Woman”
Harriet Tubman / Conductor on Underground Railroad / Most famous conductor on Underground RR, helped slaves escape to the North in 19 trips, freeing over 300 slaves

Ben Franklin was president of first anti-slavery society in America – the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery

2. In what ways did African Americans’ efforts contribute to the abolitionist movement?

Supported The Liberator and Anti-Slavery Society - spread antislavery literature and petitioned Congress to end slavery

Wrote narratives about experiences to expose cruelties of slavery

·  Harriet Jacobs – Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

·  William Wells – antislavery play and personal narrative novel Clotel

3. What opposition to abolition existed in the North? Why?

Some agreed with the South and supported slavery, others disliked slavery but opposed equality for African Americans

Fear of job loss (compounded by media newspapers)

Mob violence against abolitionists – mob killed abolitionist Elijah Lovejoy

Congress passed a gag rule that forbade members of Congress from discussing antislavery petitions – northern members wanted to avoid the issue

4. What affect did Nat Turner’s Rebellion have?

Nat Turner led some slaves to kill slaveyholders – open talk about slavery disappeared in the South – such talk became dangerous and made emancipation more unlikely

5. What difficulties did abolitionists face?

Mob violence, gag orders, hostile neighbors, etc.