Abolition Movement
The abolition movement sought to end slavery and the international slave trade. In Great Britain reformers managed to ban the trade in slaves in 1807, but it would take decades before slavery was finally ended in America.
Violence Over Slavery on the Floor of the US Senate
Tensions over slavery boiled over in May 1856, as attacks in Kansas amounted to a small-scale civil war. And the violence even reached the US Capitol, where a Congressman from South Carolina, Preston Brooks, beat a Senator from Massachusetts, Charles Sumner. Brooks felt that a speech Sumner gave condemning slavery deserved physical punishment.
Tensions over slavery boiled over in May 1856, as attacks in Kansas amounted to a small-scale civil war. And the violence even reached the US Capitol, where a Congressman from South Carolina, Preston Brooks, beat a Senator from Massachusetts, Charles Sumner. Brooks felt that a speech Sumner gave condemning slavery deserved physical punishment.
Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass had been born a slave in Maryland, managed to escape, and became an eloquent advocate for the abolition of slavery. This PBS site presents a concise biographical sketch of Douglass.
Frederick Douglass had been born a slave in Maryland, managed to escape, and became an eloquent advocate for the abolition of slavery. This PBS site presents a concise biographical sketch of Douglass.
Frederick Douglass Papers
The Library of Congress hosts a massive online collection of the papers of Frederick Douglass.
The Library of Congress hosts a massive online collection of the papers of Frederick Douglass.
Abolition Exhibit at the Library of Congress
The US Library of Congress hosts an exhibit devoted to the abolition movement which features source documents including broadsides, pamphlets, and sheet music.
The US Library of Congress hosts an exhibit devoted to the abolition movement which features source documents including broadsides, pamphlets, and sheet music.
Abolition of the Slave Trade
In Great Britain a number of remarkable characters worked to finally bring an end to the slave trade. The BBC hosts a site that tells the story of abolition in Britain.
In Great Britain a number of remarkable characters worked to finally bring an end to the slave trade. The BBC hosts a site that tells the story of abolition in Britain.
Prominent Abolitionists
Information about leaders of the abolitionist movement, presented by the Library of Congress.
Information about leaders of the abolitionist movement, presented by the Library of Congress.