The Abolition of Slavery

The Abolition of Slavery

It has been said that no reform movement more significant, ambiguous, or provocative of later historical investigation then the drive to abolish slavery. The democrats protested the denial of civil and political rights to slaves. In the 1820's, the abolitionist cause attracted very few followers because there seemed to be no way to get rid of slavery without another revolution.

Many Americans believed that the issue of slavery was outside of federal control. The majority of Northerners didn't want slavery in their communities, but since the constitution stated that states may allow slavery, the north felt as though it wasn't their responsibility to fight it. People who advocated any kind of forced abolition in the states where slavery was legal were judged irresponsible. Many leaders were scared to speak out against slavery for fear that they will lose the support of the people. John Quincy Adams was against slavery, but didn't make any public speeches against it.

Quaker Benjamin Lundy wrote in a Baltimore newspaper against slaves entitled The Genius of Universal Emancipation. His coeditor was William Lloyd Garrison, who was for immediate abolition. This was an unpopular view during the 1830s, even with northerners who were against slavery. Garrison became the editor of the Liberator, in 1831, another antislavery newspaper. Garrison wrote what he believed: that, in time, all blacks would be equal in every way to the country's white citizens. In 1832 he helped organize the New England Anti-Slavery Society. This was one of the first organizations dedicated to promoting immediate emancipation. He also believed that the Anti-Slavery Society should not align itself with any political party. Though there was an organized Liberty party formed, that ran on a platform against slavery, which only received 7000 votes total.

Very few whites wanted to be part of the anti-slave movement, only strong reformers and free blacks. Blacks were abolitionists before whites, having over fifty anti-slave groups by 1830. David Walker was the first prominent black abolitionist. He was born free, but suffered from racism. Walker traveled throughout the country, eventually living in Boston. But even living in the north, with its prevalent discrimination, life was less than ideal for black residents. He became involved with the nation's first African American