The Commitment to Immediate Emancipation - Essay Example

This paper illustrates that the article “The Commitment to Immediate Emancipation” begins by letting readers understand the time frame of the events and the state of affairs that was prevailing there. The period was that of the Second Great Awakening in the 1830s. This was the period of the religious revivals, anti-prostitution, urbanization, and developments in technology. These factors led to the elimination of slavery and freedom of slaves. Technological advances and urbanization accelerated the flow of information through the country.

Awareness about the plight of slaves made many people stand for the cause of emancipation of slaves. Religious revivals also opened the eyes of people. They began to learn the humane way of living, standing against slavery, alcohol use and other similar activities. The author continues to explain the way abolitionists prospered in those periods. Religion is the common factor that can be found in the upbringing of a majority of the abolitionists. We read in the article that “The parents of abolitionists were usually well-educated Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Quakers, and Unitarians who participated heavily in revivalism and its attendant benevolent projects.

” Religion made the church-going people understand that slavery is an inhumane practice that is wrong according to a word of God. The author of the article states that habits, like drinking, sexual immorality, and ignoring family ties, are as bad as the practice of slavery. The article analyses the nature of nineteenth-century Protestantism and the commitment that made people strive for the elimination of slavery. There existed innumerable antislavery factions, some of them demanding an immediate end to slavery and some others choosing a gradual abolition of slavery.

Certain groups suggested that the ex-slaves should be sent to Africa. According to few antislavery positions, slaves should be freed after paying the market value of the slaves to the slave owners. However, the most radical position strongly demanded an immediate, unconditional liberation of slaves giving no compensation to the slave owners. The religious revivals, the revival made people cry for an elimination of the inhumane practice of slavery. The author makes use of the historical facts to prove the thesis and secondary points.

“The Commitment to Immediate Emancipation” enhances the reader’s understanding of the historical period. The article educates the readers about Colonial America. The economic growth and other scenarios prevailed in that period contributed to the emancipation of slaves and stoppage of slavery. The article exposes the religious picture of Colonial America. Author explains how religion contributed to the new moral establishment in the nation. The conversion experience of the people, the religious revivals, and the God-centered life of the people are perfectly presented in the article.

The religious set up of the period contributed to several social and cultural changes in the society. The author of the article has successfully presented the religion-centered life prevailed in the society. The importance of moral uprightness and social responsibility in that society and the nature of upbringing of children are well covered in the article.