How did America's attitude towards slavery begin to change?

​Methods of Change

• A growing number of Americans believed that slavery should end as soon as possible, instead of being abolished gradually over time.

• Though slavery was ending in the Northern states, many white Northerners still supported slavery and worried about the effect free African Americans would have on society.

• The American Colonization Society developed a plan to send free African Americans to Liberia in Africa. Only about 10,000 chose to resettle there.

​It is the oldest republic in sub-Saharan Africa.

• Liberia’s population is about 3.5 million.

• Liberia covers 43,000 square miles; it is about the size of Virginia.

• The capital city, Monrovia, is named for James Monroe.

​Liberia

American Colonization Society did not stop the growth of slavery. Only a few African Americans wanted to go to Africa, while most wanted to be free in America. 

Failure

Northerns supported slavery since they did not like the idea of thousands of free Black Americans being part of society.

​Fear

Northern Attitude Towards Slavery

Gaining Momentum

​Abolitionists Strategies

• Many whites and African Americans began writing books and publishing newspapers that publicly called for the end of slavery.

• Frederick Douglass worked to abolish slavery and Sojourner Truth traveled the nation speaking against slavery and for women’s rights. Both had been born as enslaved people.

• Abolitionists established the Underground Railroad to help enslaved people escape from the South.

​Some slave states were closer to the Northern United States and Canada. Those enslaved people would likely want to move north to escape. Enslaved people who were located closer to Mexico, Florida, or the Caribbean would probably choose an escape route that headed south toward those areas

Underground

Railroad

Writer made a major impact on the abolitionist movement by writing about the horrible conditions of slavery.

Harriet Beecher Stowe

There were people who didn't like the book. In the South the book was banned.

BANNED BOOK!

Push Back from the South

Who opposed abolition of slavery?

• White Southerners required enslaved labor to maintain their way of life.

• Many white Northerners worried that freed African Americans would never blend into American society. Others feared the abolition of slavery could cause war between the North and the South.

• Opposition to abolitionism sometimes led to violence.

Born free in North Carolina and settling in Boston, writer David Walker published a powerful pamphlet against slavery. He challenged African Americans to rebel and overthrow slavery.​

​David Walker

His newspaper, The Saint Louis Observer, wrote anti-slavery articles. His work angered pro-slavery groups. He was attacked and killed by a mob, angry over his work.

Elijah Lovejoy