The abolitIonist movement
The Abolitionist Movement came as realization of the sin of slavery. It was seen that slavery was not Christian and so, it was a sin committed. It emerged in the early 1830’s. It came about as a means to end the barbaric treatment that the Blacks were receiving from their masters. The slave owners feared the end of slavery and that is where they strongly opposed the Abolitionist movement which sought to free the slaves under their custody. The Whites had various negative feelings towards the Blacks and hence they brought strong opposition to the Abolitionist Movement. (Davis2006)
Slavery held the growth of the economy by a large percentage. This was because the slaves offered free labor to their owners. They were used by their owners to work in their farms, do all sort of manual work and also perform their household chores. The farms brought income to the American White. They really needed the services offered by the slaves, as the slaves would do much work than an employed person and at no pay. So, without the services of the slaves it would be so hard for the agriculture sector. There plantations would become a waste as there would be no available labor. It would farther increase the cost of production as it would require the slave owners to employ the slaves.
The Northerners slave owners wanted to maintain the status quo. The House of Representatives refused to upgrade slaves to second class citizens. At the status of a slave, one would not make any decision about his or her life; one was not able to own anything. The slaves did not enjoy any rights as they were not protected by the constitution. The Massachusetts House of Representatives refused to pass legislation against slavery. They argued that passing such legislation would disturb unity of the states. They saw that, it would disrupt the harmony of their North with that of their neighbors- the South. The North and the South was bond by the existing trade between the two of them. (Davis 2006)
The slave owners carried a negative and contemptuous attitude towards the slaves and were characterized by various arguments brought forth by the white farmers. The House of Representatives members argued that is would be ‘dangerous and unsound for the Negros’ to hold public office (Davis 2006). Giving the Blacks the right to vote was a ‘crazy idea’. They felt that the Blacks were not civilized enough to vote or even hold public office. They argued that they need some more time for them to be civilized. Most of the White farmers also believed that the Blacks would be ruined if they were offered their civil rights. (Davis 2006)
These sentiments were all out of the racial prejudice by the Whites. They considered blacks as inferior based on the skin color. They argued that there homeland- Africa- was a dark continent which was far behind. They argued that Blacks were only capable of doing the manual work in the farms or some other form of physical labor. This was simply because they were not civilized enough.
The whites of North America feared that the freed Blacks would compete for the jobs which were only held by the Whites. They were not ready to work with the Blacks. The freed slaves had to start their new mode of life. To start of, they needed some source of income. Some Blacks hoped to settle down as farmers. They used a slogan ‘forty acres and a mule’. Some of the North Whites opposed antislavery as they had not registered their slaves for emancipation. During this time, every master was compensated for every slave freed. (Davis 2006)
Though Abolitionist Movement got the various obstacles, the movement used various ways to campaign for antislavery. They used religion, politics, media and even through radical or militant ways to attain their course. To start of, we shall look at how the Abolitionist Movement used religion to fight slavery. The church was the earliest venue to condemn slavery. They stated that it was a sin for one to enslave another as all were equal before the eyes of God. The slaveholders were active members of the church. They stated that it was hypocritical for them to be church members whilst they were slaveholders. Emancipation was their only way for them to repent. Religious Abolitionists were able to get allies who included the well organized Methodist, Baptist and Presbyterian Antislavery movements.
An era named The Second Great Awakening that was characterized by huge religious revival changes started emerging. This saw the growth of the Baptist, Methodist and the Presbyterian churches. This era saw more and more of the Blacks being absorbed into the church. It also led to rise of the spirit of the abolitionism. This period was crucial as it united the slaves through the church and also was a period for social reforms. The Religious Abolitionists were also able to build their own learning institutions that included the founding of Bates College and also the Oberlin College. The church was a great platform to host the demands of antislavery because of having the capacity to attract huge audiences. (Davis 2006)
The Abolitionists also involved themselves in politics to campaign for antislavery. There was the launching of the Liberty Party in 1840. Its main manifesto was the immediate emancipation of slaves and the immediate repeal of all legislation with racial prejudice as it was immoral and unethical. The party did not get the support of Garrisonian faction who supported no political participation. It was not able to get many of the votes in the 1840 and 1844 elections. In 1848, a faction of the party merged with the ‘Whigs’ and some of the Democrats to form the Free Soil Party. This was an anti-extensionist party that was against the extension of slavery to the western states. With this it was able to capture more votes than the Liberty Party. Liberty men would not accept the compromised position of the new party. The Liberty Party therefore broadened its platform to a universal reform. It had the argument that through the constitution, the Congress could sanction the activity of slavery. (Davis 2006)
The Blacks became radical when the Fugitive Slave Law was passed. It stated that any Federal marshal who did not arrest a runaway slave was liable to a $1000 fine and anybody aiding a freeing slave was also liable to a fine. John Brown was able to recruit young black and white abolitionists. He was aided by antislavery radicals mainly from small radical political abolitionist factions. He organized an attack at the Harpers Ferry, a federal arsenal, but it did not spark predicted mass slave insurrection. All the various ways used to fight slavery helped to curb the vice. Abolitionist continued to fight for the rights of the African-American even after the civil was (Davis 2006). The media was also used to pass information to the Blacks. There was ‘The Liberator’ a paper published by Garrison. There were also publications by other Blacks. They all preached for unity among the Blacks. They also praised the achievements of the Blacks.
The abolitionists were opposed to the House of Representatives. This is because it refused to make the necessary legal reforms which would sanction the vice of slavery. Strong opposition also came from the North from the Massachusetts ship manufacturers. They made the slave ships which were specially made to transport the captured slaves to America and other lands. They felt that their business would go into ruins once slavery was abolished. Abolishing slave trade meant that their ships were no longer required. Their strong influence made things for the Abolitionist Movement very hard. It made it hard for them to campaign for their goal. (Davis 2006)
Slavery held the growth of the economy by a large percentage. This was because the slaves offered free labor to their owners. They were used by their owners to work in their farms, do all sort of manual work and also perform their household chores. The farms brought income to the American White. They really needed the services offered by the slaves, as the slaves would do much work than an employed person and at no pay. So, without the services of the slaves it would be so hard for the agriculture sector. There plantations would become a waste as there would be no available labor. It would farther increase the cost of production as it would require the slave owners to employ the slaves.
The Northerners slave owners wanted to maintain the status quo. The House of Representatives refused to upgrade slaves to second class citizens. At the status of a slave, one would not make any decision about his or her life; one was not able to own anything. The slaves did not enjoy any rights as they were not protected by the constitution. The Massachusetts House of Representatives refused to pass legislation against slavery. They argued that passing such legislation would disturb unity of the states. They saw that, it would disrupt the harmony of their North with that of their neighbors- the South. The North and the South was bond by the existing trade between the two of them. (Davis 2006)
The slave owners carried a negative and contemptuous attitude towards the slaves and were characterized by various arguments brought forth by the white farmers. The House of Representatives members argued that is would be ‘dangerous and unsound for the Negros’ to hold public office (Davis 2006). Giving the Blacks the right to vote was a ‘crazy idea’. They felt that the Blacks were not civilized enough to vote or even hold public office. They argued that they need some more time for them to be civilized. Most of the White farmers also believed that the Blacks would be ruined if they were offered their civil rights. (Davis 2006)
These sentiments were all out of the racial prejudice by the Whites. They considered blacks as inferior based on the skin color. They argued that there homeland- Africa- was a dark continent which was far behind. They argued that Blacks were only capable of doing the manual work in the farms or some other form of physical labor. This was simply because they were not civilized enough.
The whites of North America feared that the freed Blacks would compete for the jobs which were only held by the Whites. They were not ready to work with the Blacks. The freed slaves had to start their new mode of life. To start of, they needed some source of income. Some Blacks hoped to settle down as farmers. They used a slogan ‘forty acres and a mule’. Some of the North Whites opposed antislavery as they had not registered their slaves for emancipation. During this time, every master was compensated for every slave freed. (Davis 2006)
Though Abolitionist Movement got the various obstacles, the movement used various ways to campaign for antislavery. They used religion, politics, media and even through radical or militant ways to attain their course. To start of, we shall look at how the Abolitionist Movement used religion to fight slavery. The church was the earliest venue to condemn slavery. They stated that it was a sin for one to enslave another as all were equal before the eyes of God. The slaveholders were active members of the church. They stated that it was hypocritical for them to be church members whilst they were slaveholders. Emancipation was their only way for them to repent. Religious Abolitionists were able to get allies who included the well organized Methodist, Baptist and Presbyterian Antislavery movements.
An era named The Second Great Awakening that was characterized by huge religious revival changes started emerging. This saw the growth of the Baptist, Methodist and the Presbyterian churches. This era saw more and more of the Blacks being absorbed into the church. It also led to rise of the spirit of the abolitionism. This period was crucial as it united the slaves through the church and also was a period for social reforms. The Religious Abolitionists were also able to build their own learning institutions that included the founding of Bates College and also the Oberlin College. The church was a great platform to host the demands of antislavery because of having the capacity to attract huge audiences. (Davis 2006)
The Abolitionists also involved themselves in politics to campaign for antislavery. There was the launching of the Liberty Party in 1840. Its main manifesto was the immediate emancipation of slaves and the immediate repeal of all legislation with racial prejudice as it was immoral and unethical. The party did not get the support of Garrisonian faction who supported no political participation. It was not able to get many of the votes in the 1840 and 1844 elections. In 1848, a faction of the party merged with the ‘Whigs’ and some of the Democrats to form the Free Soil Party. This was an anti-extensionist party that was against the extension of slavery to the western states. With this it was able to capture more votes than the Liberty Party. Liberty men would not accept the compromised position of the new party. The Liberty Party therefore broadened its platform to a universal reform. It had the argument that through the constitution, the Congress could sanction the activity of slavery. (Davis 2006)
The Blacks became radical when the Fugitive Slave Law was passed. It stated that any Federal marshal who did not arrest a runaway slave was liable to a $1000 fine and anybody aiding a freeing slave was also liable to a fine. John Brown was able to recruit young black and white abolitionists. He was aided by antislavery radicals mainly from small radical political abolitionist factions. He organized an attack at the Harpers Ferry, a federal arsenal, but it did not spark predicted mass slave insurrection. All the various ways used to fight slavery helped to curb the vice. Abolitionist continued to fight for the rights of the African-American even after the civil was (Davis 2006). The media was also used to pass information to the Blacks. There was ‘The Liberator’ a paper published by Garrison. There were also publications by other Blacks. They all preached for unity among the Blacks. They also praised the achievements of the Blacks.
The abolitionists were opposed to the House of Representatives. This is because it refused to make the necessary legal reforms which would sanction the vice of slavery. Strong opposition also came from the North from the Massachusetts ship manufacturers. They made the slave ships which were specially made to transport the captured slaves to America and other lands. They felt that their business would go into ruins once slavery was abolished. Abolishing slave trade meant that their ships were no longer required. Their strong influence made things for the Abolitionist Movement very hard. It made it hard for them to campaign for their goal. (Davis 2006)
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