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In 1835, a poster that showed two drawings gained popularity, as it appeared on walls throughout Washington, D.C. One was labeled, "The Land of the Free,” which showed the founding fathers reading the Declaration of Independence. The other was labeled, “The Home of the Oppressed," which showed slaves trudging past the U.S. Capitol building. According to the TCI textbook, "the poster posed a challenging question: How could America, the 'land of the free,' still allow slavery?" This question sparked a new development in the United States of America—the abolitionist movement.

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Abolitionism was the movement to end and abolish slavery in the United States of America.

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Abolitionists supported abolition, or the ending of slavery. They took great measures to help slaves be freed and treated equally, which eventually paid off.

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The picture below is of the famous American abolitionist, Harriet Tubman. By following the North Star, she was able to escape slavery using escape routes now known as the Underground Railroad. Tubman guided about 300 other slaves to freedom in Canada. Not only did she do this, but during the Civil War, Tubman also served the Union Army as a nurse, cook, and spy. After Harriet Tubman got married and settled down, she continued to help improve the lives of African Americans by supporting schooling and education for free blacks. Furthermore, she even transformed her farm into a shelter for poor and elderly African Americans. Ultimately, her actions made life for African Americans better in the states, and helped guide them to greater equality and freedom.

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During a speech in Rochester, New York on July 4, 1852, Frederick Douglass quoted the message below. This quote tells us that Independence Day was of no value to slaves because if “all men are created equal," as said in the Declaration if Independence, then slaves should have had the same rights as white men. This enlightened many and made them realize that slavery was unjust. According to American Heroes, “Honored today for his eloquence, bravery, and the crucial role he played in helping to end slavery, Frederick Douglass fought for reform cases until the end of his life.”

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The quote below by Susan B. Anthony, explains how the Constitution, which begins as “we, the people”, includes all people in the United States of America. It wasn’t just men or just white men. The phrase included the “whole people, the people who formed the Union—or slaves and women. She expressed that all the rights listed in the constitution would apply to slaves, and they should be freed and treated equally, along with women. Susan B. Anthony helped fugitive slaves escape and held an anti-slavery rally. She also made many passionate speeches against slavery.

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As explained in the video below, in 1833, Prudence Crandall admitted a black student to her girls' school. This, however, caused white parents to take their children out of the school, and Prudence responded by opening a school for African American girls. White citizens threw stones at her school, and she was jailed and forced to close her school in 1834. She was an important figure in the Abolition movement because she was a woman with a lot of strength and courage. Moreover, she fought very hard to educate black students, though this caused her to face strong opposition.

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PRUDENCE CRANDALL MUSEUM // Connecticut's Cultural Treasures

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The song below was written by the famous abolitionist, William Lloyd Garrison. In this piece, he demands freedom for all and wants there to be peace and joy throughout the land. Garrison describes the troubles slaves face, and how those who are pro-slavery are "cowardly souls". Moreover, he was a deeply religious man, and according to Britannica, Garrison "helped lead the successful abolitionist campaign against slavery in the United States." Though he was a white man, his actions were deeply devoted towards the abolitionist movement. For example, he started a fiery abolitionist newspaper called The Liberator.

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In Garrison's paper, he wrote, “I will be as harsh as truth. I will not retreat a single inch-and I will be heard.” The Abolition movement gained public attention through Garrison's articles. Along with many others, his enthusiasm inspired the famous abolitionist and Women's Rights activist, Sojourner Truth, to speak out about slavery and other issues.

Here is a brief audio recording about William Lloyd Garrison and how he benefited the abolition movement.

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