American Anti-Slavery Society

American Anti-Slavery Society
Main activist arm of the U.S. abolition movement, which sought an immediate end to slavery in the country (see abolitionism).

Cofounded in 1833 by William Lloyd Garrison and Arthur Tappan, it promoted the formation of state and local auxiliaries to agitate for abolition. Despite violent opposition, by 1840 the group had 2,000 auxiliaries and more than 150,000 members, including Theodore Weld and Wendell Phillips. Its most effective public meetings featured testimony by former slaves, including Frederick Douglass and William Wells Brown. In 1839 it split into two factions: a radical group led by Garrison that denounced the Constitution as supportive of slavery and a moderate faction led by Tappan that led to the birth of the Liberty Party.

* * *

▪ United States history
      (1833–70), promoter, with its state and local auxiliaries, of the cause of immediate abolition of slavery in the United States.

      As the main activist arm of the Abolition Movement (see abolitionism)), the society was founded in 1833 under the leadership of William Lloyd Garrison (Garrison, William Lloyd). By 1840 its auxiliary societies numbered 2,000, with a total membership ranging from 150,000 to 200,000. The societies sponsored meetings, adopted resolutions, signed antislavery petitions to be sent to Congress, published journals and enlisted subscriptions, printed and distributed propaganda in vast quantities, and sent out agents and lecturers (70 in 1836 alone) to carry the antislavery message to Northern audiences.

      Participants in the societies were drawn mainly from religious circles (e.g., Theodore Dwight Weld) and philanthropic backgrounds (e.g., businessmen Arthur and Lewis Tappan and lawyer Wendell Phillips), as well as from the free black community, with six blacks serving on the first Board of Managers. The society's public meetings were most effective when featuring the eloquent testimony of former slaves like Frederick Douglass (Douglass, Frederick) or William Wells Brown (Brown, William Wells). The society's antislavery activities frequently met with violent public opposition, with mobs invading meetings, attacking speakers, and burning presses.

      In 1839 the national organization split over basic differences of approach: Garrison and his followers were more radical than other members; they denounced the U.S. Constitution as supportive of slavery and insisted on sharing organizational responsibility with women. The less radical wing, led by the Tappan brothers, formed the American and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, which advocated moral suasion and political action and led directly to the birth of the Liberty Party (q.v.) in 1840. Because of this cleavage in national leadership, the bulk of the activity in the 1840s and '50s was carried on by state and local societies. The antislavery issue entered the mainstream of American politics through the Free-Soil Party (1848–54) and subsequently the Republican Party (founded in 1854). The American Anti-Slavery Society was formally dissolved in 1870, after the Civil War and Emancipation.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • American anti-slavery society — L American anti slavery society (1833 1870) était une société abolitionniste fondée par William Lloyd Garrison et Arthur Tappan dont le siège se situait à New York. Les anciens esclaves Frederick Douglass ou William Wells Brown furent quelques… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • American Anti-Slavery Society — The American Anti Slavery Society (1833 1870) was an abolitionist society founded by William Lloyd Garrison and Arthur Tappan. Frederick Douglass was a key leader of the society and often spoke at its meetings. William Wells Brown was another… …   Wikipedia

  • American Anti-Slavery Society — Flugblatt zur 29. Versammlung am 12. Mai 1863 in New York City Die American Anti Slavery Society war eine 1833 von William Lloyd Garrison und Arthur Tappan gegründete Gesellschaft die sich für die Befreiung der Sklaven einsetzte. Geschichte 1831… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • American Anti-Slavery Society — L American anti slavery society (1833 1870) était une société abolitionniste fondée par William Lloyd Garrison et Arthur Tappan dont le siège se situait à New York. Les anciens esclaves Frederick Douglass ou William Wells Brown furent quelques… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Anti-Slavery Society — The Anti Slavery Society was the everyday name of two different British organizations.The first was founded in 1823 and was committed to the abolition of slavery in the British Empire. Its official name was the Society for the Mitigation and… …   Wikipedia

  • American Anti-Slavery Group — The American Anti Slavery Group (AASG) is a coalition of abolitionist organizations engaged in political activism to abolish slavery in the world today. It raises awareness of contemporary slavery, particularly among the chattel slaves of… …   Wikipedia

  • American and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society — The American and Foreign Anti Slavery Society split off from the American Anti Slavery Society in 1840 over a number of issues, including the increasing influence of anarchism (and an unwillingness to participate in the government’s political… …   Wikipedia

  • Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society — Remember Your Weekly Pledge, collection box for Massachusetts Anti Slavery Society. Set aside in the home, the box was designed to remind members to make their weekly contribution. Circa 1850 The Massachusetts Anti Slavery Society was organized… …   Wikipedia

  • New England Anti-Slavery Society — The New England Anti Slavery Society (1831–1835) was formed by William Lloyd Garrison, editor of The Liberator, in 1831. The Liberator was also its official publication. July 4th celebration of the Society, Boylston Hall, Boston, 1832 Separate… …   Wikipedia

  • New-England Anti-Slavery Society — Die New England Anti Slavery Society war eine 1831 von William Lloyd Garrison gegründete Gesellschaft zur Abschaffung der Sklaverei in den Vereinigten Staaten. Die abolitionistische Bewegung verurteilte die Sklaverei als unmoralisch und… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”