Antislavery Movement - Timeline by Brian Sanchez

1817- American Colonization Society

jrodr146 — 2024-10-31 15:39:08 UTC

Was made for the purpose of transporting freed slaves to an African colony. This idea appealed to those against slavery, however it also appealed to those that simply wanted freed black Americans out of the country.

1822- Established an African American settlement in Monrovia, Liberia

This idea never proved practical. African Americans by this point had generations of ancestry in America and did not want to leave. Only about 12,000 African Americans were transferred, while the enslaved population grew by 2.5 million.

The Start of the Abolitionist Movement - 1830

bsanc016 — 2024-10-31 15:41:35 UTC

The Antislavery-Movement emerged in the United States around this time. Influenced by Enlightenment thinking, many declared that slavery is against a man's natural rights, Additionally, many churches condemned it, believing it to be a sin. This combination of beliefs is what initially began to give rise to the movement, and was an important foundation for its future.

The Liberator - 1831

bsanc016 — 2024-10-31 15:48:56 UTC

William Lloyd Garrison published The Liberator, an abolitionist newspaper, throughout 1831. Uncompromising in its beliefs, it declared that slavery should be abolished in every state and territory throughout the United States without any compensation towards slave owners. This publication is generally considered to mark the initial point of the radical abolitionist movement.

1840- Liberty Party

jrodr146 — 2024-10-31 15:49:15 UTC

Due to the radical (for this time) nature of Garrison's beliefs, a split was created within the abolitionist movement. Some believed that taking political action was a more practical route than Garrison's approach. Thus, the liberty party was formed. With James Birney as their candidate for president in 1840 and 1844, the party's one campaign pledge was to bring about the end of slavery by political and legal means.

American Antislavery Society - 1833

bsanc016 — 2024-10-31 16:01:42 UTC

Along with other abolitionists, Garrison officially founded the American Antislavery Society. It spread the message of their cause through various media formats, often wrote petitions to congress, and even had public meetings featuring former slaves to further its cause. It helped spread and convince the general public of its message. Even so, around this point Garrison had stepped up his proclamation of his beliefs, condemning and even burning the constitution as a proslavery document, which may have pushed some people away from the cause.

1841- Frederick Douglass

jrodr146 — 2024-10-31 16:04:59 UTC

Upon earning his freedom around 1848, Frederick Douglass attended an Anti-Slavery convention, where he was asked to speak on his experiences as a slave. Due to his exceptional talent in public speaking and his ability to provide a firsthand account of his enslavement, the audience was very moved, and from there he joined the anti-slavery movement. He advocated for both political and direct action to end slavery and racial prejudice.

Harriet Tubman - 1850

bsanc016 — 2024-10-31 16:14:16 UTC

Finding herself free from the shackles of slavery thanks to the Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman officially joined the Abolitionist Movement. She became a conductor for the trains and transported large amounts of slaves from the Southern United States over to Canada, due to the passing of the Fugitive Slave Act by congress. Her influence was known by enslavers, as they put out bounties for her with rewards being in the tens of thousands. It's approximated that in a decade, Tubman was able to give 70 people their freedom.

1831- Violent Abolitionism

jrodr146 — 2024-10-31 16:21:05 UTC

David Walker and Henry Highland Garnet were two abolitionists that advocated for the most radical solution to slavery. They encouraged slaves to take action against their owners by revolting against them.

In 1831, Nat Turner led a revolt in which 55 white American were killed. In response, whites killed hundreds of African Americans. Before the revolt, there was some talk among southerners about the idea of freeing the slaves. After this event, the fear of future uprisings and Garrison's inflamed rhetoric ended the discussion of antislavery.

Fugitive Slave Act - 1850

bsanc016 — 2024-10-31 16:21:57 UTC

In 1850, Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act, which made it illegal to assist escaped slaves and forced law enforcement to send any escaped slaves back to their owners. With legal trouble brewing, more people became unwilling to help out escaped slaves, and any officers who refused to follow the new law were charged $1,000. This marked a turning point for escaped slaves throughout the United States, forcing many to look towards Canada for their freedom.

1843- Sojourner Truth

jrodr146 — 2024-10-31 16:40:54 UTC

A significant advocate for both women's rights and the anti slavery movement. Believing she was called by God, she preached, sang, and debated her beliefs in various places across america and often joined fellow abolitionists in their efforts. With the help of olive gilbert, she wrote her book, The Narrative Of Sojourner Truth.