key term - Abolition

Definition

Abolition refers to the movement aimed at ending slavery and the slave trade, particularly in the United States during the 19th century. This movement gained momentum as advocates worked to influence public opinion and policy, ultimately leading to significant legal changes, including constitutional amendments that abolished slavery.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The abolition movement was significantly driven by moral and religious arguments against slavery, with key figures like Frederick Douglass and Harriet Beecher Stowe raising awareness about the injustices of the institution.
2. The movement gained traction through various means, including literature, speeches, and activism, leading to greater public support for the cause.
3. The American Anti-Slavery Society, founded in 1833, played a pivotal role in organizing efforts to promote abolition and mobilize supporters across the nation.
4. Resistance to abolition often included violent backlash from pro-slavery factions, leading to events such as the Bleeding Kansas conflict and John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry.
5. The culmination of the abolition movement was marked by the passage of the 13th Amendment in December 1865, which legally ended slavery in the United States.

Review Questions

• How did key figures contribute to the success of the abolition movement?
  • Key figures like Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, and William Lloyd Garrison played critical roles in shaping public perception of slavery. Douglass used his eloquent speeches and writings to expose the horrors of slavery from a first-hand perspective. Tubman’s efforts with the Underground Railroad provided practical support for escaped slaves. Garrison founded influential publications such as 'The Liberator' that rallied support for abolition, showing how individual actions could spark broader societal change.
• Analyze how legal changes contributed to the goals of the abolition movement.
  • Legal changes were instrumental in advancing abolitionist goals, particularly through measures like the Emancipation Proclamation and the ratification of the 13th Amendment. The Emancipation Proclamation freed enslaved individuals in Confederate states, marking a significant step towards ending slavery. The eventual passage of the 13th Amendment formally abolished slavery throughout the United States, demonstrating how legal frameworks were transformed through sustained activism and political pressure.
• Evaluate the long-term impacts of abolition on American society and its political landscape.
  • The abolition of slavery had profound long-term impacts on American society and politics, leading to significant changes in civil rights dynamics. The end of slavery set the stage for subsequent movements advocating for African American rights, including Reconstruction efforts and later civil rights campaigns. It also reshaped political discourse around freedom and equality, highlighting issues of race that continue to resonate in contemporary discussions about justice and equality. The legacy of abolition remains evident as it laid foundational principles for ongoing struggles against systemic inequality.

Related terms

Emancipation Proclamation:

An executive order issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 that declared the freedom of all enslaved people in Confederate-held territory.

13th Amendment: The constitutional amendment ratified in 1865 that abolished slavery in the United States, ensuring that neither slavery nor involuntary servitude could exist within the country.

Underground Railroad: A secret network of individuals and safe houses that helped enslaved African Americans escape to free states and Canada before the Civil War.