Striving For Freedom: Abolitionist Movement
Desiring supreme political and economic power, Europeans legalized the enslavement of people of African descent. Fueled in 1831, by the Nat Turner Rebellion in Virginia, the abolitionist movement demanded “the immediate emancipation of all slaves and the end of racial discrimination and segregation” (History Staff, 2009). As people of the African descent and European enthusiasts contracted together in Western Europe and the Americans, between the 1830s and 1870s, the abolitionism movement expanded. In this paper, I will stipulate a historical summary on the abolitionist movement through clarifying details on the political objectives, fundamental concepts, and honorable figures that contributed to this social movement. The abolitionist movement represented the plea for political governance over the people of African descent, in an attempt for augmented power and control. Pursuing to fight this governance, the abolitionist movement profoundly relied on basic political objectives to govern and strengthen the movement. Of optimal concern, “Hundreds of thousands of abolition supporters drafted and signed petitions in opposition to the gag rule that was in place in Congress” (McNeese, 2008). …show more content…
The gag rule characterized a political prevention of discussing slavery in the legislation, which sanctioned for little to no progress to occur in the abolitionist movement. Without the ability to discuss slavery, innovative ideas and criticisms of the act could not ensue, stipulating the continuation of human degradation. Desiring an end to the gag rule, abolition supports sought to abolish this rule by constructing petitions against the silence. The gag rule rested critical, as it represented “not only a historically important window into slavery deliberations in Congress but also a case study in majority party restrictions of minority rights—and in the boundaries that constituency politics can place on majority power” (Meinke, 2007). Embodying more than a halt in slavery deliberations, the gag rule demonstrated the political power that majorities preserve over minority groups. Due to their political power and size, majorities control the government and nation, by conserving the authority to eliminate or decelerate social movements against societal norms. In an endeavor to fight majority power, while achieving abolition objectives, an antislavery party known as the Liberty Party arose to fight slavery through political processes. Contrary to other political views, the Liberty Party “centered on opposition to the expansion of slavery into America’s western territories and on condemnation of slavery and racial discrimination” (McNeese, 2008). Through the criticism of slavery and racial discrimination, the Liberty Party exposed the political power and capabilities of the abolitionist movement. In fact, the Liberty Party clarified the “vast proslavery political conspiracy in the gag rule that had been in effect in Congress for eight years, as well as President Tyler’s campaign to bring Texas into the Union as a slave state as quickly as possible” (McNeese, 2008). As discussed formerly, the gag rule endorsed slavery and white supremacy by condemning discussion of the topic. Silence facilitated in the continuation of slavery within the Americans and Europe. Along with the gag rule, President John Tyler needed Texas to join the union because it would upturn the number slave states, while consenting him to remain in office. With southern states defending slavery, the Liberty Party recognized the political influence and atmosphere that Texas would append to the slave movement. While the Liberty Party sought the political aspect of the abolitionist movement, Quakers fought for the ethical and moral wrongs of slavery. In fact, “Quakers were among the earliest and most insistent voices opposing slavery and the slave trade in both England and the United States, and they led the 19th century abolitionist movement that preceded the U.S. Civil War” (Dannheisser, 2008). Observing slavery as a moral misconduct, Quakers relied on their religious philosophies to condemn slavery, while fighting for equality and freedom. Along with their resilient voices, Quakers portrayed an imperative role in the Underground Railroad, which aided runaway slaves in achieving their freedom in Northern States. Together, the Liberty Party and Quakers sought to abolish slavery through their political and ethical views. While the Liberty Party and Quakers sought to demonstrate their political objections, their behaviors reflected the fundamental concepts of the abolitionist movement. Fighting to abolish slavery, the abolitionist movement “Sought individual and national salvation through elimination
Desiring supreme political and economic power, Europeans legalized the enslavement of people of African descent. Fueled in 1831, by the Nat Turner Rebellion in Virginia, the abolitionist movement demanded “the immediate emancipation of all slaves and the end of racial discrimination and segregation” (History Staff, 2009). As people of the African descent and European enthusiasts contracted together in Western Europe and the Americans, between the 1830s and 1870s, the abolitionism movement expanded. In this paper, I will stipulate a historical summary on the abolitionist movement through clarifying details on the political objectives, fundamental concepts, and honorable figures that contributed to this social movement. The abolitionist movement represented the plea for political governance over the people of African descent, in an attempt for augmented power and control. Pursuing to fight this governance, the abolitionist movement profoundly relied on basic political objectives to govern and strengthen the movement. Of optimal concern, “Hundreds of thousands of abolition supporters drafted and signed petitions in opposition to the gag rule that was in place in Congress” (McNeese, 2008). …show more content…
The gag rule characterized a political prevention of discussing slavery in the legislation, which sanctioned for little to no progress to occur in the abolitionist movement. Without the ability to discuss slavery, innovative ideas and criticisms of the act could not ensue, stipulating the continuation of human degradation. Desiring an end to the gag rule, abolition supports sought to abolish this rule by constructing petitions against the silence. The gag rule rested critical, as it represented “not only a historically important window into slavery deliberations in Congress but also a case study in majority party restrictions of minority rights—and in the boundaries that constituency politics can place on majority power” (Meinke, 2007). Embodying more than a halt in slavery deliberations, the gag rule demonstrated the political power that majorities preserve over minority groups. Due to their political power and size, majorities control the government and nation, by conserving the authority to eliminate or decelerate social movements against societal norms. In an endeavor to fight majority power, while achieving abolition objectives, an antislavery party known as the Liberty Party arose to fight slavery through political processes. Contrary to other political views, the Liberty Party “centered on opposition to the expansion of slavery into America’s western territories and on condemnation of slavery and racial discrimination” (McNeese, 2008). Through the criticism of slavery and racial discrimination, the Liberty Party exposed the political power and capabilities of the abolitionist movement. In fact, the Liberty Party clarified the “vast proslavery political conspiracy in the gag rule that had been in effect in Congress for eight years, as well as President Tyler’s campaign to bring Texas into the Union as a slave state as quickly as possible” (McNeese, 2008). As discussed formerly, the gag rule endorsed slavery and white supremacy by condemning discussion of the topic. Silence facilitated in the continuation of slavery within the Americans and Europe. Along with the gag rule, President John Tyler needed Texas to join the union because it would upturn the number slave states, while consenting him to remain in office. With southern states defending slavery, the Liberty Party recognized the political influence and atmosphere that Texas would append to the slave movement. While the Liberty Party sought the political aspect of the abolitionist movement, Quakers fought for the ethical and moral wrongs of slavery. In fact, “Quakers were among the earliest and most insistent voices opposing slavery and the slave trade in both England and the United States, and they led the 19th century abolitionist movement that preceded the U.S. Civil War” (Dannheisser, 2008). Observing slavery as a moral misconduct, Quakers relied on their religious philosophies to condemn slavery, while fighting for equality and freedom. Along with their resilient voices, Quakers portrayed an imperative role in the Underground Railroad, which aided runaway slaves in achieving their freedom in Northern States. Together, the Liberty Party and Quakers sought to abolish slavery through their political and ethical views. While the Liberty Party and Quakers sought to demonstrate their political objections, their behaviors reflected the fundamental concepts of the abolitionist movement. Fighting to abolish slavery, the abolitionist movement “Sought individual and national salvation through elimination