Written By: Tristan Nelson
Abolitionist Movement Leaders
The leaders of the Abolitionist movement had a great influence on the emancipation of slavery and many other changes during the time period. I believe that the most influential leaders of the abolitionist movement were William Lloyd Garrison, the Tappan brothers, and Fredrick Douglas. These people affected many lives and helped change the world we live in today.
William Lloyd Garrison was one of the most famous abolitionists. He was from New England, he grew up in poverty. He educated himself to be an apprentice for a newspaper publisher. Early in his career he had experience with slavery because he read many anti-slavery papers. Throughout the 1830’s Garrison became one of the most uncompromising opponents to slavery. He began his publications in Boston Working the newspaper called the liberator. Garrison started to for the antislavery society with the Tappan brothers. Within a year they had helped from 200 antislavery society forms. Within four years there were 1,300 anti-slavery societies. In 1839 they had a petition to end slavery with two million signatures on it. William Lloyd Garrison and the Tappan brothers had a huge influence on the abolitionist movement. Slavery was abolished thanks to these men and many events leading up to this. Without these people the world could be a totally different place and slavery could still exist.
Another great abolitionist of the time was Frederick Douglas. He was born into slavery; he never knew his father and didn’t see his mother because she was at another slave camp down the road. When Frederick was ten he was sent by his slave master to a relative in Baltimore. Fredrick worked as household servant as an unskilled laborer. Douglas taught himself to read and write which was impressive for a slave at the time. Many people couldn’t read or write during this time. At the age of twenty one he escaped from slavery with the help of some local Negros. He arrived at New York City then went to New Bedford. There he couldn’t do the same work as the white males so sawed wood, dug cellars shovel coal, and load and unload ships. After, he took a subscription to the Liberator. (The newspaper that William Garrison worked for) He began going to the abolition movement meetings. In 1841, he had an electrifying speech, where he narrated his slave experience.
This sparked his career as an abolitionist. After the convention John A. Collins, an agent for the American slavery society came to Frederick and told him he should be a full-time lecturer for the organization. It was easy being an active abolitionist at the time because they would attack the speakers and throw stuff at them while they gave their speech. In 1843, he was chosen as one of the speakers at the “one hundred anti-slavery conventions”. Douglass went on tour giving lectures at all of the conventions. He influenced and inspired many people while doing this. In the winter he started his book The Life of Frederick Douglass. His book went on to inspire thousands more of people. He raised money to go to Scotland and Ireland to give anti-slavery speeches over there. In 1846, he became a legally free person. Frederick left back to Scotland for two years and came back to be International Figure. He became one of the most famous men of the time. Here an example of his work from a speech. This shows a lot about Frederick and his perseverance.
I do not go back to America to sit still, remain quiet, and enjoy ease and comfort. . . . I glory in the conflict, that I may hereafter exult in the victory. I know that victory is certain. I go, turning my back upon the ease, comfort, and respectability which I might maintain even here. . . Still, I will go back, for the sake of my brethren. I go to suffer with them; to toil with them; to endure insult with them; to undergo outrage with them; to lift up my voice in their behalf; to speak and write in their vindication; and struggle in their ranks for the emancipation which shall yet be achieved.
----FAREWELL TO THE BRITISH PEOPLE, March 30, 1847
This is one of many pieces of writing from Frederick Douglass. In this quote the main subject is slavery and he is talking about giving hard work and putting passion in to what he’s doing to abolish slavery. He also says that slavery will be emancipated and he is working tirelessly.
These people had a huge effect of the era and abolitionist movement. These men founded our way to freedom and led the way to abolishing slavery. The abolitionist movement was a strong and dangerous movement but it changed the world we live in today. The great leaders of the abolitionist movement were William Lloyd Garrison, The Tappan Brothers, and Frederick Douglas. The faith of these men kept America going in a good direction.
Abolitionist Movement Leaders
The leaders of the Abolitionist movement had a great influence on the emancipation of slavery and many other changes during the time period. I believe that the most influential leaders of the abolitionist movement were William Lloyd Garrison, the Tappan brothers, and Fredrick Douglas. These people affected many lives and helped change the world we live in today.
William Lloyd Garrison was one of the most famous abolitionists. He was from New England, he grew up in poverty. He educated himself to be an apprentice for a newspaper publisher. Early in his career he had experience with slavery because he read many anti-slavery papers. Throughout the 1830’s Garrison became one of the most uncompromising opponents to slavery. He began his publications in Boston Working the newspaper called the liberator. Garrison started to for the antislavery society with the Tappan brothers. Within a year they had helped from 200 antislavery society forms. Within four years there were 1,300 anti-slavery societies. In 1839 they had a petition to end slavery with two million signatures on it. William Lloyd Garrison and the Tappan brothers had a huge influence on the abolitionist movement. Slavery was abolished thanks to these men and many events leading up to this. Without these people the world could be a totally different place and slavery could still exist.
Another great abolitionist of the time was Frederick Douglas. He was born into slavery; he never knew his father and didn’t see his mother because she was at another slave camp down the road. When Frederick was ten he was sent by his slave master to a relative in Baltimore. Fredrick worked as household servant as an unskilled laborer. Douglas taught himself to read and write which was impressive for a slave at the time. Many people couldn’t read or write during this time. At the age of twenty one he escaped from slavery with the help of some local Negros. He arrived at New York City then went to New Bedford. There he couldn’t do the same work as the white males so sawed wood, dug cellars shovel coal, and load and unload ships. After, he took a subscription to the Liberator. (The newspaper that William Garrison worked for) He began going to the abolition movement meetings. In 1841, he had an electrifying speech, where he narrated his slave experience.
This sparked his career as an abolitionist. After the convention John A. Collins, an agent for the American slavery society came to Frederick and told him he should be a full-time lecturer for the organization. It was easy being an active abolitionist at the time because they would attack the speakers and throw stuff at them while they gave their speech. In 1843, he was chosen as one of the speakers at the “one hundred anti-slavery conventions”. Douglass went on tour giving lectures at all of the conventions. He influenced and inspired many people while doing this. In the winter he started his book The Life of Frederick Douglass. His book went on to inspire thousands more of people. He raised money to go to Scotland and Ireland to give anti-slavery speeches over there. In 1846, he became a legally free person. Frederick left back to Scotland for two years and came back to be International Figure. He became one of the most famous men of the time. Here an example of his work from a speech. This shows a lot about Frederick and his perseverance.
I do not go back to America to sit still, remain quiet, and enjoy ease and comfort. . . . I glory in the conflict, that I may hereafter exult in the victory. I know that victory is certain. I go, turning my back upon the ease, comfort, and respectability which I might maintain even here. . . Still, I will go back, for the sake of my brethren. I go to suffer with them; to toil with them; to endure insult with them; to undergo outrage with them; to lift up my voice in their behalf; to speak and write in their vindication; and struggle in their ranks for the emancipation which shall yet be achieved.
----FAREWELL TO THE BRITISH PEOPLE, March 30, 1847
This is one of many pieces of writing from Frederick Douglass. In this quote the main subject is slavery and he is talking about giving hard work and putting passion in to what he’s doing to abolish slavery. He also says that slavery will be emancipated and he is working tirelessly.
These people had a huge effect of the era and abolitionist movement. These men founded our way to freedom and led the way to abolishing slavery. The abolitionist movement was a strong and dangerous movement but it changed the world we live in today. The great leaders of the abolitionist movement were William Lloyd Garrison, The Tappan Brothers, and Frederick Douglas. The faith of these men kept America going in a good direction.