Abolitionists

Definition: These people worked to abolish, or

end slavery. They believe no one has the rightto own another person.

*** Mostly Northerners

Famous abolitionists

• Sojourner Truth• Frederick Douglass• Harriett Tubman• William Lloyd Garrison• the Grimke Sisters• Dred Scott• Nat Turner

We will be focusing on two …

• Harriett Beecher Stowe• John Brown

Harriett Beecher Stowe

The book told stories Stowe had heard from runaway slaves.

Slaves were fleeing the South and heading towards the North for freedom.

It helped turn the North against slavery. (slavery was morally wrong!)

Sold 300,000 copies in the first year.

“So this is the lady who started the Civil War.”

- Abraham Lincoln

John Brown’s Raid on Harper’s Ferry

• Brown led men to steal weapons for slaves to protect themselves against confederate soldiers.

• In 1859, John Brown and his followers seized a federal arsenal in Harpers Ferry, Virginia.

Raid at Harper’s Ferry• John Brown and 21 followers

attacked a U.S. arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia.

– Planning to use the guns to arm a slave revolt, on October 16, 1859, the group captured the arsenal.

– He sent some of his group to spread the word to the area’s slaves to rise up in revolt, but they returned with a few hostages. No slaves were willing to run away and join Brown.

• Armed local townspeople followed by U.S. Marines fought Brown and his group.

• Brown and his surviving followers were tried; all were sentenced to hang. Brown was hanged December 2, 1859.

After the attack

"Now, if it is deemed necessary that I should

forfeit my life for the furtherance of the

ends of justice, and mingle my blood

further with the blood of millions in this

slave country whose rights are disregarded

by wicked, cruel, and unjust enactments, I

say, let it be done.“

- John Brown, statement at his sentencing on

Nov. 2, 1859

Last Moments of John Brown (painting by Thomas Hovenden)

Engine house at Harper’s FerryJohn Brown’s Grave, NY