Abolition Movement

Origins of SlaverySlavery was not an institution created in the United States. Slavery roots go back more than 2 millennium. It has footprints in most Ancient civilizations. ● Egypt ● Greece ● The Roman Empire ● China ● Pre-Columbian Societies in the Americas

The Colonies● The earliest slaves were white indentured servants from

England ● As the Colonies grew and agricultural production

increased indentured servants were not enough and the African slave trade took hold Slavery was legal in all the Colonies except Georgia until 1751 when it was the last to legalize the practice

● The Plantation System developing in the South was a major force behind the booming slave trade.

Image of the Plantation System - A. R. Waud's sketch Rice Culture on the Ogeechee, Near Savannah, Georgia depicts slaves working in the rice fields. From Harper's Weekly

● Read handout.o Annotate justifications for slavery.

● How can these justifications be forces pushing African-Americans to the periphery? Can we identify the forces specifically?

What were the arguments for slavery?

● Form of christian revivalism in many ways:o started in the colonies from roughly 1720s through the American

Revolution. prayer & spirituality reside in the heart and therefore people can

experience an inward spirituality. evangelicalism evolved and spread. printing became more widely used - more people were exposed to

sermons, teaching, etc. People became more emotionalized by religion. People were empowered and ministers lost some of their

authority - people began thinking they could make their own political decisions.

many preached spiritual equality regarldess of race.

Impact of the Great Awakening(s)

1839 Methodist Camp Meeting

The Abolition Movement & arguments against slavery.

Definition of abolition:

Development of the Abolition Movement

● the abolition movement was taking place informally from the moment slavery became institutionalized.

● Formally,o 1775 first abolition organization formed - Society for the Relief of Free

Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage - Philadelphiao 1787 Society for Promoting the Manumission of Slaves - NYCo By the end of the American Revolution, all states (Except Georgia and

South Carolina) had anti-slavery societies.o Greater efforts were made in the North

Vermont abolished slavery in 1777 1780 Pennsylvania passed a gradual emacipation law.

What were the arguments against slavery?● To examine such we are going to look into

specific abolitionists. ● This will begin in class and be your

homework.● Pg. 12 in reader.

Add a 4th question:What were their arguments against slavery? (thus

why were they in favor of abolition?)

Abolition Movement● What types of people were involved in the abolitionist

movement?● What methods did members of the abolitionist

movement use and which were more effective?● How did membership of the abolitionist movement

increase the political voice of women?● What does the abolition movement highlight about

equality & hierarchy for African Americans at this time?o What forces are African Americans working against?