The Abolitionist Movement

The political cartoon Forcing Slavery Down the Throat of a Freesoiler was a lithograph published by Harper’s Weekly, a periodical that published columns, cartoons, and stories relating to current events (McCollister). John L. Magee, an artist and lithographer that created many satirical political illustrations created the cartoon in 1856 during a time when political tensions between the proslavery and antislavery movement was reaching its peak, a presidential election that could define the future of the expansion of slavery was at the political front, and the diving views between two halves of the country were setting the precedent for a civil war. The cartoon lays is an attack on the Democratic party as it depicts a bearded “freesoiler” being

The South was very threatened by this movement. Pro-slavery Southerners and abolitionists detested each other and refused to compromise with each others beliefs. In the “Declaration of the National Anti-Slavery Convention”, it states, “every American citizen who retains a human being in involuntary bondage as his property is (according to scripture) a MAN STEALER” (doc B). This quote illustrates how Northern abolitionists were extremely critical about anyone owning slaves and even implies that it is a sin to have slaves. The need of balance in the government and insistent extremists lead to many violent outbreaks. In 1854, the Kansas Nebraska Act was passed to keep both sides content through popular sovereignty. But the failed attempt to create momentary peace only lead to violence between extremists and within the government. Abolitionists and Southerners both migrated to Kansas trying to sway the vote in their direction, but it only ends in violent outbreaks and death. In document E, the image displays how the sectional tensions rose to violent level in the Senate, when Republican Senator Charles Sumner is beaten with a cane on the senate floor by Democratic Rep. Preston Brooks. Even the

Before the Civil War broke out, the South was the most powerful section of the country; it was the wealthiest, controlled Congress, and produced Presidents. Yet, slavery influenced all of these factors. The 4 million slaves that were seen as property, free labor, and assets proved to be an enormous, economic benefit. Even the most powerful slave owners were living comfortably and saw themselves as more entitled than the Northerners. As the Civil War progressed, especially during 1863, anxiety plagued the slave owners since their Southern civilization and way of life was being threatened by the Union Army. “This was not merely an economic blow; it was a challenge to and rejection of their most basic views, values, and identities.” (#158). Slavery was around in the United States for over 2 centuries before the Civil War and many Southerners deeply depended on it for they knew of no life without it. Once Abraham Lincoln was elected into office in 1860, masters viewed him as treasonous and perceived the slaves who began to show resistance to their demands as

Abolitionism was unpopular even in the north at first; during the time of the Constitution of Convention of 1789, there were hardly any abolitionists and northerners preferred to think of slaves as property to keep the South from gaining power through the vote. Abolitionists were outcasts because they threatened stability. Northerners “had been brought up to revere the Constitution and to regard the clauses on slavery as a lasting bargain” (359). There was also a fear of succession with the economic interest many northerners had in the south in the form of unpaid loans. Despite initial unpopularity, later circumstances caused abolitionism to grow in strength.

In this paper there has been a discussion of the legislation and the tensions preceding the southern Secession. Based on this discussing it can be concluded that the tensions, which culminated with the Civil War, were present many decades before the secession itself. Even threats of Civil war and secession were present much prior to this particular conflict. 
This paper has also concluded that the threat of Lincoln was real to the South, because of the Republican party’s very distinct foundation as an anti-slavery party. Slavery was a soft spot in the South because of the substantial value slaves had. Slaves’ value was both as labour force in the profitable cotton industry but also as tradable property and the loss of slavery would mean a massive

In 1975, Michael Shaara wrote one of the most classic Civil War books ever, The Killer Angels. In The Killer Angels, Shaara portrays the perspectives of many soldiers who fought in the Civil War including those from both sides, the North and the South. Civil War soldiers fought for something more than just manhood, duty, government, and their country. They fought for and against slavery, which for most soldiers was their primary motivation beyond defending their home. Slavery for many was more than just an institution, it was the fabric of their economic society that provided the wealth and opportunity to the South. Without slavery the South could not operate and prosper which made it impossible for the notion of emancipation. However, those in the North did not immediately rely on the institution of slavery in such dire manner. For Northerners, empathy was easier to practice. As the notion of emancipation became more widely discussed by politicians during the abolitionist movement tensions between the North and the South rose. The idea that the nation could eradicate the lifeblood of the southern plantations was deemed unacceptable and the southern states felt helpless. The South fought for state’s rights which is synonymous with slavery as that was the most important right they were fighting for, and the North fought to keep the South from seceding, largely due to South’s interest in maintaining slavery as

Documents were spread in newspapers such as The Cincinnati Post and Anti-Abolitionist, which published weekly articles written by proslavery advocates (OI). It would go to the point of publishing abolitionists’ names, numbers, and addresses, adding more to the list weekly, with the footnote, “This list will be continued with new additions from week to week until perfected. Our friends in the South will know what use to make of it!” This newspaper often published articles by S. Trott, who argued strongly against the Missouri Compromise (OI). Trott’s letter outlined ludicrous reasons why slavery should be allowed (OI). Contrarily, many Northern documents referring to abolition were novels, but one had a larger impact on the start of the Civil War than any other book- Uncle Tom’s Cabin. This book was written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, and was in the first person perspective (OI). It told of the truths and horrors of slavery, and readers grew to be empathetic for both Stowe and all other slaves (Doc. 5). The only book that sold more copies in the year Uncle Tom’s Cabin was published,1852, was The Bible, and by 1855, it was called “the most popular novel of our time” (Doc. 5). Southerners disliked the messages it spread, and how much positive attention it received (Doc. 5). Conflicts grew as documents became debates; debates became protests, which turned violent (Doc.

Summary: The Lincoln Douglas debates were a series of seven debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas. The debates were to be held at 7 locations throughout Illinois. The prive they sought was a seat in the Senate. Douglass still supported ‘’popular sovereignty,’’maintained the right of the citizens of a territory to permit or prohibit slavery. Lincoln pointed out that Douglas's position directly challenged the Dred Scott decision, which decreed that the citizens of a territory had no such power.

I believe that the Fugitive Slave Act was the main cause of the Civil War. This was when the south forced the north to catch any runaway slaves. Even if they just let the slave go through there property there is a high chance they could still get caught. When they get caught for not catching the slave they get fined 30,000 dollars in today's money. If they were to catch a slave and then have it run away it would be a 100,000 dollar fine. If a southerner wants to get a slave all they have to is get a certificate from a southern judge saying that it is his or her slave. The northerners were outraged because slavery was outlawed in the north so they didn't want to be a part of it. Many of the northerners were abolitionists. An abolitionist is

Throughout the years of 1807-1910, there was a lot of tension and confusion within the United States. The major factor that prompted the U.S. expansion was they wanted to expand and make their borders known.

The Civil War resulted due to the division and the gradual collapse of the Union between the two sections. It can be argued that both the North and South were distinct regions. However, both regions initially displayed nationalism in various ways at the beginning of the Civil War. Southern nationalism allowed the Confederates to justify their secession and independence. The formation of the Confederacy and the established Confederate Constitution in February 1861, nationalism validated their status as an independent country. The foundation of Southern nationalism was its unique southern regional identity. This identity was built on factors such as climate, geography, economic development, and cultural values. The institution of slavery, however,

Throughout the course of American History, one of the most inner conflicts held within this nation has been the conflict between sectionalism and slavery. Divided by the North and the South, the conflicts born by these two opposing sections were a result over the debate on slavery. Since the North was primarily made up of business and industry, the people had no need for the institution known as slavery. However, the South was simply an area in which the practice of slavery was used to make a profit for its agriculture based society. Slavery became a topic for debate, but not because it was just morally wrong for it was a conflict of personal gain. The creation of this sectionalism was born from the issues and interests of slavery, profit,

hroughout the mid-nineteenth century in the United States, the reform movements that swept through the nation led to a great expansion of democratic ideas through increased rights and the betterment of the quality of life. Since the birth of the US through the early nineteenth century, the primary goal of all citizens and governmental leaders was to establish a solidified nation and to secure the laws and rights outlined in the Declaration of Independence and later, the US Constitution. Jumping forward to the 1820s, the young country faced numerous challenges to the prosperity of its citizens, bringing forth a slew of reform movements to do just that.

‘November 6 1860, Lincoln was elected president of America which resulted in panic emerging in the South’ . The election of Lincoln as president who was a Republican leader meant that ideologies, movements and values from the North would be implemented in the South which meant the abolition of slavery. Slavery was a huge characteristic of the South as the economy; politics; social status and psychological mind-sets were influenced by the process of slavery. The southern white population then derived the idea of secession which meant the South would gain independence from Northern aggression . This essay will explore the reasons as to how and why secession occurred and whether slavery was the main

Slavery in America first began in the first permanent English settlement, Jamestown, in 1619. African slaves were brought to this colony to assist the colonist in the production of the profitable crop tobacco. Slavery in America would go on to be practiced throughout the America until the late 18th century. The abolition movement was an endeavor to abolish slavery in the United States.