Abolitionism in the United States - Annotated Bibliography Example

Abolitionism in the United s It is axiomatic to assert that since the colonial era to civil war, the of slavery was at the centre of the United States politics and economy. The demise of the same was associated with the development that was witnessed in the country. The abolition of slavery came in different waves; the first one was gradual and peaceful in areas where slaves were few while the second is serious violent clashes of some parts which ended into the liberation of approximately 4 million slaves. The end of slave trade was as a result of resistance by slaves, changing ideological currents and political developments1. The abolitionism was part of the greater Atlantic movement. To constructively have a solemn discussion on this paper, it is in order to delineate the concept ‘abolitionism’. It refers to the movement, initiated to end both informal and formal slavery. It was regarded a historic movement in America and Western Europe to end the slave trade amongst Indians and Africans and to subsequently set them free. The discussion will focus on abolitionism in the United States with emphasis on the African American and how this influenced the understanding of civilization. Discussion The wave of emancipation in the United States was initiated by the convictions and ideas of various religious and secular sources during the 18th century.2 Philosophical minds like Montesquieu coined the argument on how slavery violated the fundamental human rights. He believed that the right to liberty was important to the existent of humanity. Others scholars who originated from Scotland anchored their argument on humanitarian grounds when condemning slavery, holding that it was cruel and goes against the principles upon which God created human beings. 1. Finkelman, Paul. In the Shadow of Freedom the Politics of Slavery in the National Capital. Athens: Published for the United States Capitol Historical Society by Ohio University Press, 2010. 2. Azevedo, Celia Maria Marinho De. Abolitionism in the United States and Brazil: A Comparative Perspective. New York: Garland Pub., 1995. Quaker John Wolman who was a writer and a religious leader believed that slavery was a serious biblical sin. The American resistance of the policies formulated by British in 1765 was regarded as the resistance to enslavement. Samuel John asked that “How is it that we hear the loudest yelps for liberty among the drivers of Negroes?” By 1776, hundreds of Americans started denouncing the holding of slaves and the African American slaves who were in Massachusetts wrote the legislature to adopt laws that denounced slavery. 3 The anti slavery campaigns escalated further when slaves joined the call. In Virginia, Governor, Lord Dunmore promised slaves to be freed as long as they were fighting the British. South Carolina Governor Henry Clinton promised slaves the same. Thousands of slaves including those owned by Thomas Jefferson and George Washington fled away to join the protest. In Massachusetts and New Hampshire, legislatures adopted laws in 1780 that outlawed slavery. Pennsylvania was the first state in the US to adopt laws that abolished slave trade. The moves to free slaves in some states in the south became impossible because of the importance of slavery to the rise of tobacco and rice economies and also the fact that some whites could not imagine of a society where blacks and whites are treated equally. In the South states, whites feared the consequence of African descendants occupying their state. The behaviors of the Southerners explain just how racism influenced the decision in most Southern States. It also helps understand the roots of people in Haiti as most of them were slaves who were in the Southern states and were then thrown there. 3. Kellow, Margaret M. R. "Women and Abolitionism in the United States: Recent Historiography." History Compass: 1008-020. The adoption of the constitution in 1808 resulted to the end of the Atlantic slave trade. The serious anti slavery reform came in 1820 with the development of Evangelical Christian denominations. Those who were converted worked towards to prepare the way for the coming of Jesus. African Americans believed that they were as Americans just like the whites. William Lloyd Garrison later helped the blacks and did not only become the crusader of anti slavery but also against racial discrimination. He argued that those who supported slavery were anti-Christian. With various societies and organizations formed, the fight to end slavery took a centre stage. By 1830, the growth of abolitionist purely depended on the activists who took to the street to oppose the act. A number of women and African Americans who were once marginalized took part in the movement.4 Their opposition to the slave trade explained how people shun gender bias and racism. They strongly believed in the equality. African Americans built strong a powerful abolitionist networks. James Forten for instance provided funding to Garrison’s newspaper in Philadelphia while David Ruggles carried a campaign to convince both white and black activists to aid the fugitive slaves in New York.5 The African Americans who strongly opposed slave trade regarded themselves as the vanguard of the struggle for freedom across the globe. The struggle for these people informs the understanding on the freedom and the belief in equal fundamental rights for all irrespective of their gender, race. It reiterates the need to judge people by the content of their brains and not the color of their skin. 4.Singh, Robert. "Capital Punishment In The United States: A New Abolitionism?" The Political Quarterly: 341-51. 5. Azevedo, Celia Maria Marinho De. Abolitionism in the United States and Brazil: A Comparative Perspective. New York: Garland Pub., 1995. Women activist played a fundamental role to see an end to slavery. Women writers, orators and editors pushed the idea of abolitionism into newspapers, homes, churches and schools. From Illinois to Massachusetts, struggled to raise funds and circulated a number of anti slavery petitions. Betsy Mix Cowles who was a teacher in Ohio is still known for her support of the runway slaves and antislavery political parties. Sojourner Truth, who was a great orator, always electrified the crowd when she continuously made the call to end freedom. She not only travelled in America but also in Europe championing the need for equal treatment of people. Those who struggled for abolitionism knew that it was exhilarating though dangerous. Those who supported slavery believed that fighting abolitionism will kill the economy of a number of states. Others also opposed abolitionism on the grounds of equality amongst races. Leaders from a number of states threatened abolitionists, assaulted, maimed while others mysteriously disappeared. Despite the strong call to stop abolitionism, the activists never tired because of the strong conviction of equality. Being treated as less human being was unaccepted. They also believed that allowing African Americans participate in the growth of the economy as equals will only speed the growth and development of the economy. They held that a strong united America can only be built when everyone is treated equally. 6 The opposition by a number of whites from both North and South prompted further changes in the abolitionist’s struggles and movements. By 1850, the confrontations became bad. The abolitionists led serious confrontations with the holders of slaves, they formed political parties and they campaigned for the strong emancipation in the South. Despite the fact that they could not end the slavery before the eruption of the Civil war, they managed to exert serious influence on the political culture. 6. Kellow, Margaret M. R. "Women and Abolitionism in the United States: Recent Historiography." History Compass: 1008-020. By championing for equality as the main reason for independence and attacking slavery as unjust, they perceived America as a slaveholding Republic. It is no doubt that it could have taken group strife to liberate millions from the American bondage. The idea of racial equality would be a mirage if the abolitionists who believed in justice and equality could have not been there. The abolitionist opposes the imprisonment of African Americans in lumber camps, mines, and plantations. The convicts faced serious violations and contrivances to their fundamental human rights by the white authorities. The moment they were removed from the cells, they were treated as de facto slaves who mainly worked in various plantations. A number of them died from malnutrition and diseases. Despite all the struggles, it was only after 1940 that political pressures and economic changes brought a stop to the exploitation of the convicts in the South. The beginning of abolitionism movement explains how people behave when fundamental human rights are interfered with. African Americans held strong opinion that people were created equal before God and the formulated laws of the land must be able to serve the people equally. The initiation of anti-slavery informs historical understanding of modern civilization because justice is still an issue in a number of countries globally. Citizens in Somalia, Afghanistan are still treated as slaves in their country. In Tunisia and Egypt citizens ousted their leaders from power because they felt like strangers in their countries. One of the themes that are explained through the struggle is the long civil rights movement. The movement focused on ensuring that the basic human rights were entrenched in the constitution. The abolitionists believed that the American founding fathers believed in a free America where everyone should be treated equally. They believed in the talented America where both sexes, young and old are given the opportunity to exploit their interests. The right activists re-defined equality. The perspective forms the understanding of current civilization where America is still struggling with equality. Recent incidences in Ferguson still explain how people still feel that there is racial segregation in the United States. The debate of equality is at the centre stage across the globe. The multi-culture and diversity is presented by the abolitionists. According to them, appreciating and celebrating diversity was a catalyst to the growth of America’s economy. The men who built America believed in talent irrespective of an individual’s skin color.7 The current growth of America is anchored on the diversity of its products and appreciation of culture. The manufacturing of goods appreciated by people from different cultural backgrounds has made Americans economy be what it is today. Free speech and a democratic society are also presented in the discussion. The abolitionists, held strong opinion that all men have the right to air their views without fear of prosecution. Those who opposed abolitionism believed that slaves do not have a right to make any statement before them. Slaves were portrayed as less human being. Similar discussions are still going on in a number of countries across the world. Media is often gagged from reporting specific issues. Governments never allow their citizens to participate in some fundamental issues. Conclusion It is no doubt that Africa Americans faced serious human rights violations. Thousands of them were forcefully taken to the plantations and treated like animals. After all the suffering, abolitionism was inevitable. Despite the fact that it was initially opposed by a few American leaders, a number f them led by Abraham Lincoln recognized the need to stop slavery. The suffering of the African Americans contributes significantly to the history of black people. 7. Singh, Robert. "Capital Punishment In The United States: A New Abolitionism?" The Political Quarterly: 341-51. The history also helps in defining the quest for justice, human rights and racial segregation. The end of slavery resulted to an enormous economic opportunities for Africa Americas and fair treatment across all main institutions. Bibliography Azevedo, Celia Maria Marinho De. Abolitionism in the United States and Brazil: A Comparative Perspective. New York: Garland Pub., 1995. Finkelman, Paul. In the Shadow of Freedom the Politics of Slavery in the National Capital. Athens: Published for the United States Capitol Historical Society by Ohio University Press, 2010. Jeffrey, Julie Roy. The Great Silent Army of Abolitionism Ordinary Women in the Antislavery Movement. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1998.   Kellow, Margaret M. R. "Women and Abolitionism in the United States: Recent Historiography." History Compass: 1008-020. Singh, Robert. "Capital Punishment In The United States: A New Abolitionism?" The Political Quarterly: 341-51. Read More