Objective 2 -- The Abolitionist Movement
Summary
TLDRThis video script delves into the contentious history of slavery in America, highlighting the Constitutional Convention's three-fifths compromise and the rise of abolitionism in the 1800s. It discusses the American Colonization Society's efforts to resettle freed slaves in Liberia, the influential role of figures like William Lloyd Garrison, and the contributions of African Americans, including Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman. The script also addresses the Fugitive Slave Act's impact and the Underground Railroad's critical role in aiding escape to freedom.
Takeaways
- 🏛️ The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was a pivotal moment where the contentious issue of slavery was addressed, leading to the Three-Fifths Compromise.
- 📊 The compromise allowed slave states to count their slaves as three-fifths of a person for representation and taxation purposes, which was a contentious decision.
- 🔄 The early 1800s saw a rise in the abolitionist movement, with preachers and social reformers questioning the morality of slavery and advocating for its end.
- 🌐 The American Colonization Society, founded in 1816, aimed to gradually reduce slavery by resettling freed slaves in Africa, particularly in Liberia.
- 📈 The invention of the cotton gin in the late 18th century led to a cotton boom, increasing the demand for slave labor and the number of slaves in America.
- 📰 William Lloyd Garrison's publication, The Liberator, became a significant voice in the anti-slavery movement, advocating for immediate emancipation.
- 👭 Angelina and Sarah Grimke, from a slave-owning family, became influential abolitionists, using their experiences to expose the cruelties of slavery.
- 🏛️ John Quincy Adams, a former U.S. President, proposed an amendment to abolish slavery but it was never ratified.
- 📚 Free African Americans played a crucial role in the abolitionist movement, facing discrimination yet organizing and advocating for civil rights.
- 🚂 The Underground Railroad was a secret network that helped slaves escape to freedom, with figures like Harriet Tubman playing key roles in guiding them to safety.
- 📜 The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 was a law that required the return of runaway slaves and further galvanized the abolitionist movement in the North.
Q & A
What was the Three-Fifths Compromise?
-The Three-Fifths Compromise was an agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention in 1787, which decided that slaves would be counted as three-fifths of a person for the purpose of determining a state's population for representation in Congress.
How did the religious revival in the early 1800s influence the abolitionist movement?
-The religious revival and social reform movement in the early 1800s fueled a resurgence in the abolitionist movement, with preachers and ministers questioning the morality of slavery and considering it an abomination against God.
What was the American Colonization Society's approach to dealing with slavery?
-The American Colonization Society, founded in 1816, focused on gradually resettling freed slaves back to Africa, primarily in a colony known as Liberia, to start new lives as free men.
What was the impact of the cotton gin on slavery in the United States?
-The introduction of the cotton gin allowed southern plantation owners to mass-produce cotton, leading to a cotton boom and increasing the dependence on slave labor, which in turn caused the number of slaves in America to explode.
Who was William Lloyd Garrison and what was his contribution to the abolitionist movement?
-William Lloyd Garrison was an influential writer and publisher who established 'The Liberator,' one of the most popular anti-slavery newspapers of the era. He called for the immediate and complete emancipation of all slaves in America.
What role did the Grimke sisters play in the abolitionist movement?
-Angelina and Sarah Grimke were sisters from a wealthy slave-owning family in South Carolina who became prominent voices in the abolitionist movement. They spoke out against slavery, wrote a book detailing the cruelty of slave life, and freed the slaves they inherited from their mother.
What was the significance of the Supreme Court case 'The United States v. The Amistad Africans'?
-In this case, former President John Quincy Adams defended a group of illegally transported slaves who mutinied aboard the Spanish ship La Amistad. Adams successfully won their freedom, marking a significant legal victory for the abolitionist cause.
How did free African Americans in the north contribute to the abolitionist movement?
-Free African Americans in the north played a significant role by organizing chapters of the American Anti-Slavery Society, subscribing to abolitionist papers, and advocating for civil rights. They also contributed to publications like 'Freedom's Journal,' which spoke out against slavery.
What was the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 and how did it affect the abolitionist movement?
-The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 required all citizens, even in free states, to help catch and return runaway slaves to their owners. This law enraged northerners, strengthened the abolitionist movement, and led to increased efforts to help runaway slaves through the Underground Railroad.
Who was Harriet Tubman and what was her role in the Underground Railroad?
-Harriet Tubman was an escaped slave who became the most famous conductor of the Underground Railroad. She returned to the south 19 times to help lead slaves to freedom and is estimated to have helped free around 70 people from slavery, including her own parents.
How did the abolitionist movement of the 1800s lay the groundwork for the civil rights movement?
-The abolitionist movement sowed the seeds for the civil rights movement by fighting for the emancipation of slaves and advocating for equal rights. It served as a voice for the enslaved and set the stage for future struggles against racial inequality.
Outlines
🗽 The Struggle for Abolition
The paragraph discusses the contentious history of slavery in the United States, starting from the Constitutional Convention in 1787. It highlights the Three-Fifths Compromise, which allowed slave states to count slaves as three-fifths of a person for representation in Congress. The paragraph also covers the religious revival and social reform movement that fueled the abolitionist movement, the early efforts of the American Colonization Society, and the cotton boom that increased the demand for slave labor. It mentions key figures like William Lloyd Garrison, the Grimke sisters, and John Quincy Adams, who all played significant roles in the abolitionist movement. The paragraph concludes with the rise of the anti-slavery movement in literature and the press, emphasizing the call for immediate emancipation of slaves.
🌟 African American Voices in Abolition
This paragraph focuses on the contributions of African Americans to the abolitionist movement. It discusses the establishment of the American anti-slavery society chapters by African Americans, the publication of 'Freedom's Journal', and the radical writings of David Walker. The paragraph also highlights the stories of Frederick Douglass, who became a prominent speaker and editor, and Sojourner Truth, who advocated for both abolition and women's rights. The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 is mentioned, which required citizens to assist in capturing runaway slaves, leading to increased tensions between the North and the South. The Underground Railroad, a network that helped slaves escape to freedom, is also discussed, with a focus on Harriet Tubman's role as a conductor. The paragraph concludes by emphasizing the abolitionist movement's role in advocating for the rights of enslaved people and setting the stage for the civil rights movement.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Slavery
💡Three-fifths Compromise
💡Abolitionist Movement
💡American Colonization Society
💡Cotton Gin
💡Gradual Abolition
💡The Liberator
💡Grimke Sisters
💡Underground Railroad
💡Fugitive Slave Act
💡Harriet Tubman
Highlights
Slavery was a major point of contention at the Constitutional Convention in 1787.
The three-fifths compromise was passed, declaring slaves accounted as three-fifths of a person for representation.
Religious revival and social reform movements in the early 1800s fueled a resurgence in the abolitionist movement.
Abolitionists viewed slavery as counterproductive to the promise of an ideal democratic society.
The American Colonization Society was founded in 1816 with the goal of resettling freed slaves in Africa.
The cotton gin's invention led to a cotton boom and increased dependence on slave labor.
William Lloyd Garrison established the anti-slavery newspaper The Liberator, calling for immediate emancipation.
The American Anti-Slavery Society was founded in 1833 with over 1,000 chapters by 1840.
Angelina and Sarah Grimke, from a wealthy slave-owning family, became prominent abolitionist voices.
Former President John Quincy Adams proposed an amendment to abolish slavery but it was never ratified.
Free African Americans in the north played a significant role in the abolitionist movement.
David Walker, a free black man, wrote a radical piece challenging African Americans to overthrow slavery by force.
Frederick Douglass, a former slave, became a prominent abolitionist speaker and editor.
Sojourner Truth, an escaped slave, advocated for abolition and women's rights.
The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 required citizens to help return runaway slaves, strengthening the abolitionist movement.
The Underground Railroad was a secret network that helped runaway slaves escape to freedom.
Harriet Tubman, an escaped slave, became famous for her work with the Underground Railroad, helping over 70 people to freedom.
The abolitionist movement laid the groundwork for the civil rights movement in the decades to come.
Transcripts
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slavery had been a deeply dividing issue
since the birth of the nation at the
Constitutional Convention in 1787 it was
a major point of contention over state
representation in Congress slave states
argued that their slaves should count
towards the population when calculating
representation in Congress free states
argued that slaves are not afforded
citizenship rights and therefore should
not be allowed to count towards a
state's population size eventually the
convention passed the three-fifths
compromise which declared that slaves
account as three-fifths of a person when
counted towards a state's population
size the convention also allowed states
to choose for themselves whether slavery
was permitted in their territories a
religious revival and social reform
movement in the early 1800s helped fuel
a resurgence in the abolitionist
movement preachers and ministers began
to openly question the morality of
slavery and considered it an abomination
against God citing the Hebrews of the
Old Testament and freedom from slavery
in Egypt many new churches through their
full support behind abolition social
reform groups saw slavery as an obstacle
to a perfect society
reformers viewed slavery as
counterproductive to the promise of an
ideal Democratic Society America could
not be perfect until it upholds its
creed that all men are created equal
early abolition efforts in America
focused on a gradual reduction of
slavery over time the largest early
abolitionist effort was led by the
American Colonization Society founded in
1816 by white Virginians this group
focused on gradually resettling freed
slaves back to Africa the group raised
funds and bought slaves from their
owners and then sent them to a colony in
Africa known as Liberia so they could
start new lives as free men and
by 1865 it is estimated that up to
20,000 former slaves resettled in
Liberia which became an independent
country
in 1847 ultimately the ACS did little to
slow or stop slavery in America because
the number of slaves brought to the
United States increased at to greater
rate while some former slaves refused to
leave the country of their birth by 1800
southern plantation owners could now
mass-produce cotton
due to the introduction of the cotton
gin this led to a cotton boom and
southern planters became even more
dependent on slave labor as a result the
number of slaves in America exploded and
the slave trade had new life reformers
had grown frustrated with the idea of
gradual abolition and so a new course
was needed by 1830 slavery became the
most pressing issue in America and the
abolition movement revitalized the
anti-slavery movement found his strong
voice in literature the media and the
press one of its most influential
writers and publishers was william lloyd
garrison garrison established the most
popular anti-slavery newspaper of the
era The Liberator through his paper
Garrison called for the immediate and
complete emancipation of all slaves in
America which was a bold and radical new
stance the Liberator was very popular
and it inspired reformers to found new
abolition groups throughout the North
including the American anti-slavery
society in 1833 by 1840 the society had
over 1,000 chapters
cringes Angelina and Sarah Grimke were
sisters from a wealthy slave-owning
family in South Carolina who became
prominent voices in the abolitionist
movement in 1832 the sisters moved to
Philadelphia where they spoke out
against slavery and wrote a book that
included first-hand accounts of the
cruelty of slave life their book
American slavery as it is sold more than
100,000 copies in its first year the
Grimke sisters were amongst the first
women to lend their voices to the
abolitionist movement when their mother
died the Grimke sisters took the slaves
they inherited in her will and
immediately freed them in 1839 former
President John Quincy Adams proposed a
new amendment to the Constitution that
would have abolished slavery in the
United States the amendment would have
allowed slavery in the new state of
Florida but would have a banned slavery
in all future territories and States the
amendment was never ratified in 1841
Adams defended a group of slaves in the
Supreme Court case the United States v
the Amistad Africans the slaves had been
illegally transported aboard the Spanish
ship La Amistad when they mutiny and
killed the officers on board
Adams successfully won the slaves their
freedom and provided his legal services
free of charge free african-americans in
the north played a huge role in the
abolitionist movement many northern
blacks lived in the cities and faced
discrimination and segregation denied
jobs and attacked by white mobs northern
blacks saw abolition as a step in the
fight for civil rights african-americans
organized chapters of the American
anti-slavery society and subscribe to
abolitionist papers like The Liberator
the nation's first African American
newspaper freedoms journal was published
and spoke out against slavery
David Walker a free black man from
Boston who became a radical voice in the
abolitionist movement wrote a piece that
challenged African Americans to
overthrow slavery by force in 1830
leaders of the free african-american
community gathered in Philadelphia and
discussed opening African American
colleges and mass emigration to Canada
to escape persecution Frederick Douglass
was a former slave who became the most
prominent African American
of the 19th century born a slave in
Maryland Douglass taught himself to read
and write and then escape to
Massachusetts he joined the American
anti-slavery society and delivered
powerful addresses that reduced his
audiences to tears Douglass edited for
the anti-slavery newspaper the North
Star for 16 years and became an
influential writer and order Douglass
traveled to London and the West Indies
and spoke to large anti-slavery
audiences throughout his life Douglass
advocated that African Americans not
only be emancipated from slavery but be
granted their full citizenship rights as
equals with white Americans Sojourner
Truth was an escaped slave who spoke out
for abolition and women's rights her
real name was Isabella Baum free and she
was born a slave in New York in 1826
Bell escaped from her master's cellar
and fled to freedom once free truth
relied on friends to track down her son
who had been sold off and separated from
her years earlier reunited with two of
her children Truth settled in New York
City where she worked as a housemaid and
preached in the streets against the
brutality of slavery
Sojourner means traveler and she chose
her name because she professed that she
will walk in the light of God's truth in
1850 Congress passed the Fugitive Slave
Act this law required that all citizens
even in free States help catch and
return runaway slaves to their owners
citizens who helped a fugitive slave
escaped could be fined or imprisoned
slaveholders grew more emboldened after
the passage of the law some traveled
north and forced former slaves back into
slavery after living in freedom for
years some slaveholders apprehended
freemen who were never slaves and
wrongfully forced them into bondage
southerners hoped the law would force
northerners to acknowledge their right
to own slaves but it only enraged
northerners and it strengthened the
abolitionist movement many Northerners
refused to cooperate with the Fugitive
Slave Act and actually stepped up
efforts to help Runaways escape the
Underground Railroad was a secret
network run by northern whites and free
blacks that use safe houses secret rooms
tunnels and trails to help runaway
slaves evade recap
fugitive slaves would hide in cellars
and holding pins in houses owned by
whites who were sympathetic to the
abolitionist movement when the coast was
clear of slave hunters guides would then
take the Runaways to free states in the
north so they could gain their freedom
some runaway slaves fled to Canada to
avoid slave hunters and escape the
threat of slavery once and for all
Harriet Tubman was an escaped slave who
became the most famous conductor of the
Underground Railroad Tubman worked as a
field slave until she was nearly 30
years old before escaping to
Philadelphia through the Underground
Railroad in the north she met
abolitionists who shared her passion to
help slaves escape to freedom as she had
knowing the risks of being recaptured
Tubman returned to the south 19 times to
help lead slaves to freedom through the
Underground Railroad
in all Tubman helped free around 70
people from slavery including her own
parents the abolitionist movement that
was born in the 1800's with sowed the
seeds that would blossom into the civil
rights movement in the decades to come
the nation would continue to struggle
with the necessity and the morality of
slavery and the abolition movement would
be the voice of the enslaved and fight
for emancipation
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