Abolitionist Strategies
Abolitionists employed all manner of strategies to persuade the American public and its leadership to end slavery. One of their first strategies was to unite groups of like-minded individuals to fight as a body. Initially, groups like the American Anti-Slavery Society used lecturing and moral persuasion to attempt to change the hearts and minds of individuals. Many later activists found moral persuasion tactics insufficient and turned their attention to political lobbying.
Most famous of all abolitionist activities was the Underground Railroad, a network of assistance and safe houses for runaway slaves. The Underground Railroad stretched from the Southern states to Canada, and until 1865 provided shelter, safety, and guidance for thousands of runaway slaves.
Activists used the press to spread the abolitionist message. Newspapers like William Lloyd Garrison’s The Liberator circulated vehement attacks on government sanctioned bondage. Other publications, such as pamphlets and leaflets, contained anti-slavery poems, slogans, essays, sermons, and songs. Abolitionists also looked to future generations to carry on their work, creating a body of children’s literature to bring the harsh realities of slavery before a young audience. These materials were deemed so threatening in slave states that they were outlawed.
Still other abolitionists felt that violence was the only way to end slavery. These militants resorted to extreme and deadly tactics, and incited violent insurrections. These acts of terror aroused fear in slaveholders, but also led to the execution of perpetrators.
National Anti-Slavery Bazaar
The National Anti-Slavery Bazaar was a large fundraising fair run by the Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society. Members crafted and sold abolitionist paraphernalia, household items, and publications to raise money for abolitionist activities, especially the American Anti-Slavery Society’s newspaper, the National Anti-Slavery Standard.
Anti-Slavery Tokens
These United States issued copper tokens feature Josiah Wedgwood’s famous image of a shackled and kneeling slave, with anti-slavery sentiments on the reverse side.
William P. Stein Memorial Endowment
The Liberty Bell
The Liberty Bell was an American Anti-Slavery Society publication which ran from 1839-1858. It featured verse, editorials, and songs by writers and celebrities of the day.
Underground Railroad
Levi Coffin (1798-1867), a Quaker and successful merchant, along with his wife Catharine, helped thousands of slaves on their way North and to Canada on the Underground Railroad. Raised in a religious Southern family who never owned slaves, Coffin hated oppression. Coffin stated that the Bible did not mention race when it urged people to be charitable to one another. Because of his prominent role in helping slaves to freedom, Coffin’s home was given the title of “Grand Central Station” and he, the “President” of the Underground Railroad.
Underground Railroad Letter
This letter was written by one abolitionist to another on behalf of a slave escaping from the South to Canada. It reads, in part: “…I thought it was best to send him to you. Will you please put him safe on board the railroad for Canada by the way of Albany…”
Gift of Gail ’56 and Stephen Rudin
Children's Books
Abolitionists published many illustrated tracts for children on the evils of slavery to inculcate the next generation with anti-slavery beliefs. Many of these tracts featured stories of slave children separated from their parents to show free children the urgency of the abolitionist cause. This alphabet book uses slavery, abolitionist, and Christian terms to teach children abolitionist principles.
Samuel J. May Anti-Slavery Collection.
John Brown
In 1859, with the financial support of six wealthy abolitionists, militant John Brown attempted an insurrection against the federal armory at Harper’s Ferry, Virginia. He believed the raid would incite a major slave revolt, but when it failed, he was tried and hanged for treason. Most abolitionists disagreed with his tactics, but they greatly admired his strong convictions and his calm eloquence at his trial and execution. Ralph Waldo Emerson described Brown as “The Saint whose fate yet hangs in suspense, but whose martyrdom, if it shall be perfected, will make the gallows glorious like the Cross.”
Samuel J. May Anti-Slavery Collection.
Hymns and Songs
Anti-slavery words were paired with familiar tunes of the day to introduce anti-slavery sentiments into popular culture.