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Reform of the 1800s: Abolition

Abolition Legislation

Abolitionists

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Reform of the 1800s: Abolition

Abolitionists

Frederick Douglass

Herriet Tubman

Harriet Beecher Stowe

BIO

Works

Bio

Works

Bio

Works

Reform of the 1800s: Abolition

Legislation (laws)

NorthWest Ordinance 1787

Fugitive Slave of 1850

Reading

Video

Video

Reading

Uncle Tom's Cabin

Book Summary

Impact of Book

Excerpt from Book

Harriet Beecher Stowe

"The little woman who started the Civil War" - Abe Lincoln

Harriet Beecher Stowe was an American author and abolitionist who was born on June 14, 1811, in Litchfield, Connecticut. She came from a religious family and wrote a famous book called Uncle Tom's Cabin, which showed how enslaved African Americans were treated badly. The book became really popular and made people in the United States and Britain think about slavery. Harriet wrote many other books too, and she also talked about important social issues. Harriet had a big family, with seven children and many siblings. Her sister Catharine was an educator and author, and her brothers became ministers. Harriet went to school at the Hartford Female Seminary, where she learned about many different subjects like languages and math. She was a good writer and won an essay contest when she was only seven years old. When she grew up, she moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, with her father, who was a teacher. There, she met her husband Calvin Stowe, and they had seven children together. Harriet's most famous book, Uncle Tom's Cabin, was published in 1852 and became a bestseller. It made people think about the bad things that were happening to enslaved people and helped start a big debate about slavery. President Lincoln even said that Harriet's book started the Civil War. Harriet continued to write and talk about important issues throughout her life. She died on July 1, 1896, in Hartford, Connecticut.

Harriet Tubman

While Harriet Tubman was a remarkable woman with diverse contributions, she did not identify as male. To honor her identity and avoid misgendering her, it's important to use the correct pronouns she/her when referring to her. Born into slavery in Maryland around 1822, Harriet Tubman escaped to freedom in 1849. However, her journey wasn't complete. Driven by an unwavering commitment to justice, she risked her life repeatedly to guide others along the clandestine network known as the Underground Railroad. As a "conductor," she led hundreds of enslaved people, including her family, to freedom in the North. Tubman's courage and resourcefulness were legendary. She navigated by the North Star, relied on a network of abolitionists and safe houses, and adopted various disguises to evade capture. With a bounty on her head, she famously declared, "I never ran my train off the track and I never lost a passenger." These words symbolize her remarkable success in guiding over 300 individuals to freedom. Beyond the Underground Railroad, Tubman embraced other avenues to dismantle slavery. During the Civil War, she served as a scout, spy, and nurse for the Union Army. Her intimate knowledge of the South and deep connections within Black communities proved invaluable in gathering intelligence and liberating enslaved people. Following the war, Tubman continued advocating for social justice. She supported women's suffrage and worked tirelessly to uplift formerly enslaved communities. Her activism extended to establishing a home for the elderly and indigent. Harriet Tubman's legacy extends far beyond her specific actions. She embodies the courage, resilience, and unwavering dedication that fueled the abolitionist movement. Her life serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative power of individual action in the fight for freedom and equality.

Frederick Douglass

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"What to the Slave is the 4th of July"

"Is the Constitution Pro-Slavery or Anti-Slavery"

Harriet Tubman

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The Underground Railroad

...Obviously its not a REAL railroad

Her Impact

NorthWest Ordinance 1787

Imagine the United States in the 1780s, half the nation had slavery (the South), and the other half didn't (the North). The Northwest Ordinance declared that the new territories forming in the NorthWest would not allow slavery. Here is how it fought the spread of slavery in 1780:

1. No More Slaves Allowed: This law said "no new slaves allowed" in this giant new territory. It was like drawing a line and saying, "Slavery stops here!" This was a big deal because it slowed down the spread of slavery.
2. Setting a Free Example: This new territory, with no slavery, showed everyone that things could be different. It was like a shining example of a free society, inspiring people who wanted to end slavery elsewhere.
3. More Free States, Less Power for Slavery: With this new free territory, there was a chance for more free states to join the United States. This worried people who supported slavery because it meant less power for them in the government. This kept the fight against slavery going.
4. Words Matter: The Northwest Ordinance used strong words against slavery, calling it "involuntary servitude." These words were like weapons in the fight against slavery, giving people powerful arguments to use.
5. Building Momentum: This law wasn't the end of slavery, but it was a big step. It was like the first domino in a chain reaction. It led to other laws and actions that chipped away at slavery, eventually leading to the Civil War and its end.

Remember, the Northwest Ordinance wasn't perfect, but it was a powerful tool in the fight for freedom. It showed that even small steps can make a big difference in the long run!

Watch this video on the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 While the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 didn't directly abolish slavery, it played a significant indirect role in contributing to the abolitionist movement in several ways

The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 forced free states to help capture enslaved people who escaped, even in their own territories. This angered Northerners and fueled tensions leading to the Civil War.