By Warefa Pereke, September 12, 2024.
Ezonefienews.
The abolition of slavery in America was a gradual process that involved various events, legislation, and social movements. Early Abolition Efforts in 1700s-1800s involved Quakers and other religious groups who advocated for abolition. The Underground Railroad helped enslaved individuals escape to freedom.
The Underground Railroad (UGRR) was a network of secret routes, safe houses, and abolitionists who helped enslaved individuals escape to freedom in the 19th century. Enslaved individuals would plan their escape, often with the help of fellow slaves, free black communities, or abolitionists.
Escaping slaves would travel to designated “stations” (safe houses) where “conductors” (abolitionists or sympathetic individuals) would provide food, shelter, and guidance. These Underground Railroad members used codes, songs, and signals to communicate and navigate the network.
The escaping slaves would travel through hidden routes, often at night, using various modes of transportation like horses, wagons, or boats. Safe houses and hiding places like barns, attics, cellars, and other hidden spaces were provided where escapees could hide.
Many abolitionists, both black and white, risked their lives to help escapees, providing food, shelter, and legal assistance. Escaping slaves would eventually reach free states or Canada, where they could live freely.
Notable UGRR figures include Harriet Tubman who was an escaped slave and prominent conductor, Frederick Douglass who was also an escaped slave and abolitionist, William Still who was an abolitionist and UGRR leader and John Brown, an abolitionist, who used UGRR networks effectively.
The Underground Railroad (UGRR) helped an estimated 100,000 enslaved individuals escape to freedom, playing a significant role in the fight against slavery, leading up to the American Civil War.
The American Revolution and Founding Documents (1776-1787) contributed to the abolition of slavery in several ways. Some of these Revolutions and Documents are:
Declaration of Independence (1776) Document declared all men equal, with “certain unalienable Rights” including “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” This laid the groundwork for future abolitionist arguments.
Natural Rights Philosophy is a Revolution that emphasised the need for natural rights and individual liberty. This revolution challenged the legitimacy of slavery.
Northwest Ordinance (1787) Prohibited slavery in the Northwest Territory (modern-day Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin), setting a precedent for future restrictions.
The Constitutional Convention of 1787 discussed slavery, with some delegates opposing its expansion. The Three-Fifths Compromise allowed Southern states to count enslaved people for representation, but also acknowledged the possibility of future abolition.
Bill of Rights (1791): The 5th Amendment’s “due process” clause, and the 14th Amendment’s “equal protection” clause (1868) would later be used to challenge slavery and segregation.
While the Founding Documents didn’t immediately abolish slavery, they established principles of equality and individual rights, they created a framework for future anti-slavery efforts and sowed seeds of moral and philosophical doubt about slavery’s legitimacy.
The Constitution (1787) protected slavery, but also contained provisions for future abolition.
Abolitionist Movements (1830s-1860s), like the one led by William Lloyd Garrison, Frederick Douglass, and others advocated for immediate emancipation. The American Anti-Slavery Society (1833) and other organizations pushed for abolition.
Other movements for the emancipation of slavery in America were the:
1. Compromise of 1850 which admitted California as a free state, but strengthened the Fugitive Slave Act.
2. The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, which repealed the Missouri Compromise, allowing new states to decide on slavery.
3. The Dred Scott Decision (1857) in which the Supreme Court ruled that slaves weren’t citizens and had no right to sue.
4. John Brown’s Raid (1859) in which
Abolitionist John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry sparked tensions leading to the Civil War. John Brown (1800-1859) was a radical American abolitionist who believed in the use of violence to end slavery.
Brown participated in the Bleeding Kansas conflict (1854-1861), fighting against pro-slavery forces. He led the Pottawatomie Massacre (1856), killing five pro-slavery men. He raided Harpers Ferry (1859), attempting to spark a slave revolt. Brown was captured during the Harpers Ferry raid. He was tried, convicted, and executed by hanging on December 2, 1859.
Overall, John Brown’s life was marked by his unwavering commitment to ending slavery, even if it meant using violent means. His struggles and sacrifices continue to be debated and remembered in American history.
While no American president openly supported John Brown’s violent methods, Abraham Lincoln (16th President, 1861-1865) shared Brown’s strong anti-slavery views. However, Lincoln disagreed with Brown’s tactics.
Abraham Lincoln, while not directly supporting Brown’s violence, eventually issued the Emancipation Proclamation (1863), Signed the 13th Amendment (abolishing slavery). Lincoln’s evolving views on slavery and his leadership during the Civil War ultimately helped achieve Brown’s goal of ending slavery.
But, one president who sympathised with Brown’s cause was Thomas Jefferson (3rd President, 1801-1809). Although Jefferson didn’t directly support Brown, he shared similar views on slavery. Jefferson opposed slavery’s expansion, supported gradual emancipation and advocated for colonization, resettling freed slaves outside the United States.
There were courageous women and young ones who supported various abolitionists, especially John brown, to end slavery. Foremost among them was Mary Brown (John Brown’s wife),who supported her husband’s abolitionist work and managed the family’s farm during his absence.
Another woman was Harriet Tubman. She was an abolitionist and Underground Railroad leader. She collaborated with Brown, providing crucial guidance and support for his Harpers Ferry raid.
Sojourner Truth (abolitionist and women’s rights activist) was also there. She spoke publicly in support of Brown’s actions and advocated for abolition.
Not to be forgotten was Lydia Maria Child. She was also an abolitionist, writer and activist. She wrote articles and letters defending Brown’s actions and advocating for an end to slavery.
Another abolitionist and women’s rights activist, Maria Weston Chapman supported Brown’s family and provided financial assistance during his imprisonment.
Annie Brown Adams, John Brown’s daughter, helped her father with his abolitionist work and was involved in the Underground Railroad.
A prominent woman, Martha Coffin Wright, (abolitionist and women’s rights activist), provided financial support and shelter for Brown’s family during his imprisonment.
Lastly, Abby Kelley Foster (abolitionist and women’s rights activist), supported Brown’s actions and advocated for immediate emancipation.
These women, among others, played vital roles in supporting John Brown’s struggle against slavery, often risking their own safety and reputations in the process.
Several young individuals supported John Brown’s struggle to end slavery.
Oliver Brown (John Brown’s son), fought alongside his father at Harpers Ferry and died during the raid. William Leeman (17 years old), joined Brown’s raid and was killed during the fighting.
Another youth, William Thompson (17 years old), participated in the Harpers Ferry raid and was also killed. Dauphin Thompson (17 years old), William’s brother, also joined the raid and survived.
A courageous young boy, Osborne Anderson (22 years old), survivor of the Harpers Ferry raid, later wrote about his experiences. Francis Meriam (22 years old), participated in the raid and was killed as well.
Barclay Coppoc (22 years old): Joined Brown’s raid and survived, later testifying against other raiders.
Brother-in-law of John Brown, Lewis Leary (24 years old), joined Brown’s raid, was killed. Not to be forgotten was Edwin Coppoc (24 years old), Barclay’s brother, who also joined the raid and survived. Lastly, John Copeland (25 years old), participated in the raid, was captured, and executed.
These young individuals, some still teenagers, showed remarkable courage and conviction in supporting John Brown’s fight against slavery. Their involvement highlights the passion and dedication of many young people during this pivotal moment in American history.
5. The American Civil War (1861-1865), wherein The Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 declared freedom for Confederate territory slaves. The 13th Amendment (1865), abolished slavery throughout the United States.
6. The Reconstruction Era (1865-1877), coupled with the Freedmen’s Bureau and Reconstruction Acts, aimed to establish civil rights for formerly enslaved individuals.
7. Jim Crow Laws and Continued Struggle (1870s-1960s), which caused Racial segregation and discrimination to persist, leading to the Civil Rights Movements. The Jim Crow Laws (1876-1965) were:
1. Enacted by Southern states to restrict African American rights.
2. Mandated segregation in public facilities, transportation, education, and employment.
3. Disenfranchised African Americans through poll taxes, literacy tests, and grandfather clauses.
Below are the key Jim Crow Laws:
1. Civil Rights Act of 1875 (overturned by Supreme Court in 1883)
2. Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) – Established “separate but equal” doctrine
3. Cumming v. Richmond County Board of Education (1899) – Upheld segregation in education.
These laws gave rise to the Continued Struggle of the 1870s-1960s. Those who led the continued struggle were:
1. African American leaders:
– Booker T. Washington (1856-1915)
– W.E.B. Du Bois (1868-1963)
– Marcus Garvey (1887-1940)
– Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968)
2. Civil Rights Organizations:
– NAACP (founded in 1909)
– Congress of Racial Equality (CORE, founded in 1942)
– Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC, founded in 1957)
3. Major Events:
– Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-1956)
– Little Rock Nine (1957)
– March on Washington (1963)
– Selma to Montgomery Marches (1965)
– Freedom Summer (1964).
There were also Landmark Legislations for the abolishing of slavery in America. They are:
1. 13th Amendment (1865) – Abolished slavery.
2. 14th Amendment (1868) – Guaranteed equal protection.
3. 15th Amendment (1870) – Protected voting rights.
4. Civil Rights Act of 1964 – Outlawed segregation in public facilities.
5. Voting Rights Act of 1965 – Protected voting rights.
From the foregoing, The Supreme Court made major Decisions:
1. Brown versus Board of Education (1954) – Declared segregation in education unconstitutional.
2. Loving versus Virginia (1967) – Struck down laws banning interracial marriage
The Jim Crow era saw significant resistance and activism, paving the way for the Civil Rights Movement’s successes in the 1950s and 1960s.
The abolition of slavery in America was a complex, ongoing process that required persistent efforts from various individuals, groups, and events.
Key sources:
1. David S. Reynolds, “John Brown, Abolitionist” (2005).
2. Tony Horwitz, “Midnight Rising: John Brown and the Raid That Sparked the Civil War” (2011).
3. Doris Kearns Goodwin, “Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln” (2005).
