Abolition
Definition
Abolition refers to the act of officially ending slavery. In U.S history, it specifically refers to the abolition of slavery in the 19th century.
Analogy
Think of abolition as pressing a reset button on a game console. It marked a turning point by eradicating an unjust system (slavery) and starting anew with progress towards equality.
Related terms
Emancipation Proclamation: An executive order issued by President Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War that declared all enslaved people in Confederate-held territory free.
Underground Railroad: A network of secret routes and safe houses used by enslaved African Americans to escape into free states or Canada during the early-to-mid 19th century.
Frederick Douglass: An influential African American abolitionist, writer, speaker, and former slave who played a key role in advocating for emancipation.
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