“IntroductIon: on the road to the Abolition of Slavery©”

“Intr

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“IntroductIon: on the road to the Abolition of Slavery©”

VolumeS 1&2

Volu

meS 1&

2VolumeS 1&2www.americanslavehistory.com

Slavery explained in the words, writing and songs of contemporary

politicians, abolitionists, slaves, pro-slavery advocates and others.

What was slavery? Why did it exist? Why was it abolished? These are just some of the questions answered in the Abolition News Network’s Introduction to the Abolition of Slavery.

Through contemporary words, writings, artwork and songs, slavery is explored via the eyes of American Presidents, writers, abolitionists, speakers and slaves in 25 interviews on two DVDs.

Harriet Beecher Stow, the author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, describes a slave’s life and the consequences of escaping. In the song Follow the Drinking Gourd, learn how slaves embedded a route map to safety in the lyrics. In addition, an interview with Underground Railroad Station Master Rev. John Rankin describes how slaves crossed the Ohio River to freedom.

Slavery advocate Varina Davis, the first lady of the Confederacy, justifies slavery using paternalistic and biblical arguments.

President George Washington explains the essential role slavery played in sustaining the southern lifestyle and economy on his plantation.

WARNING: Some scenes may be disturbing to the viewers as either the subject matter, personalities, or their spoken language may be offensive in the 21st century. Teachers be advised.

Steve Edison, founder of the Abolition News Network, has led the nonprofit in the research, development and production of DVDs about the history of slavery for more than seven years.

The series is comprised of interviews with historical figures who discuss their experiences during the abolition period.

This project has been meticulously researched and adapted for presentation in this format by Edison.

“POLITICS:  On  the  Road  to  the  Abolition  of  Slavery©”  

“POLITICS:  On  the  Road  to  the  Abolitio

n  of  Slavery

©”  

“POLITICS:  On  the  Road  to  the  Abolition  of  Slavery©”  

VOLUME  3

VOLUME  3

!e institution of Slavery and how it was written into the U.S. Constitution.

Slavery was written into the Constitution in a series of compromises between the North and the South. On this DVD, slavery related articles and amendments to the Constitution, along with the Fugitive Slave Law of 1860, the Gag Rule, and the Kansas-Nebraska Act are explored in nine interviews.

!e !ree-Fi"hs Compromise of 1787 may have been the most controversial change to the Constitution. James Wilson explains how it permitted states to count a fraction of their slave population in appointing representatives to Congress. Senator A. Douglas gives an account of how he got the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 through Congress. While Speaker of the House Henry Clay discusses how the 1820 Missouri Compromise, admitted the state of Missouri into the Union as the only slave state above parallel 36 degrees 30 seconds north.

Not everyone was happy with the compromises. In an impassioned discussion, William Lloyd Garrison, editor of Liberator newspaper, lays out arguments against all the compromises and the Constitution.

WARNING: Some scenes may be disturbing to the viewers as either the subject matter, personalities, or their spoken language may be o#ensive in the 21st century. Teachers be advised.

VOLUME  3

 www.americanslavehistory.com

Steve Edison, founder of the Abolition News Network, has led the nonpro$t in the research, development and production of DVDs about the history of slavery for more than seven years.

!e series is comprised of interviews with historical $gures who discuss their experiences during the abolition period.

!is project has been meticulously researched and adapted for presentation in this format by Edison.

“Heroes and Heroines: on the road to the abolition of slavery©”

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oes a

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oad to the abolition of slavery

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“Heroes and Heroines: on the road to the abolition of slavery©”

Volume 4

Volu

me 4

Liberated from the shackles of slavery countless slaves made extraordinary

contributions to society.

Countless slaves overcame their bondage and oppression and achieved not only their freedom, but went on to live extraordinary lives. On this DVD, nine slaves tell stories of heroism that illuminate the power of the human spirit to transcend the impossible.

There is an inspiring interview with Josiah Henson, a slave who fled to Canada and started a colony for refugee slaves that included schools and a lumber factory.

Sojourner Truth, a fugitive slave who experienced extreme cruelty at the hands of her masters, tells how she was guided by God to champion the abolition of slavery and women’s rights at speaking engagements across the country, despite being illiterate.

Professor Booker T. Washington, a man born into slavery, went on to become an educator. In this interview he explains how he achieved his own education and why he believed education was essential to the future of the black population. He also discusses his book “Up From Slavery”.

WARNING: Some scenes may be disturbing to the viewers as either the subject matter, personalities, or their spoken language may be offensive in the 21st century. Teachers be advised.

Volume 4 www.americanslavehistory.com

Steve Edison, founder of the Abolition News Network, has led the nonprofit in the research, development and production of DVDs about the history of slavery for more than seven years.

The series is comprised of interviews with historical figures who discuss their experiences during the abolition period.

This project has been meticulously researched and adapted for presentation in this format by Edison.

“Obstacles: On the Road to the abolition of slavery©”

“Ob

stac

les: On the R

oad to the abolition of slavery

©”

“Obstacles: On the Road to the abolition of slavery©”

VOlume 5

VOlu

me 5

Slavery, culturally entrenched and protected by religious, political

and social obstacles.

Slavery had many supporters, particularly in the South. The interviews on this DVD expose a pro-slavery picture that may be disturbing to some viewers.

Many believed that the Bible championed slavery. In the first three scenes, fictional men of religion lay out God’s word on slavery. As a sacred and unalterable book, it allowed proponents of slavery to justify the institution.

In the 1840s there was more money in the slave trade than in any other industry. Mr. Isaac Franklin, one of the leading slave traders explains how he shipped out around 10,000 slaves per year.

Many in the political arena, also upheld slavery. South Carolina Senator, John C. Calhoun, was an outspoken southern agitator and slave master. He discusses nullification, the idea that if a state finds tariffs or laws against slavery not to their liking, it does not have to enforce them.

WARNING: Some scenes may be disturbing to the viewers as either the subject matter, personalities, or their spoken language may be offensive in the 21st century. Teachers be advised.

VOlume 5 www.americanslavehistory.com

Steve Edison, founder of the Abolition News Network, has led the nonprofit in the research, development and production of DVDs about the history of slavery for more than seven years.

The series is comprised of interviews with historical figures who discuss their experiences during the abolition period.

This project has been meticulously researched and adapted for presentation in this format by Edison.

“Kidnappers and Justice: On the road to the abolition of slavery©”

“Kid

na

ppers a

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Justic

e: On the r

oad to the abolition of slavery

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“Kidnappers and Justice: On the road to the abolition of slavery©”

VOlume 7

VOlu

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The law protected slavery and the scales of justice were in favor of the slave owners.

In an ideal world, justice would be impartial and fair. During the era of slavery, justice was often color-blind and the scales rarely tipped in favor of slaves.

The Fugitive Slave Law required the recapture and return of escaped slaves to their southern masters. In an interview Reverend Samuel J. May, author of “The Fugitive Slave Law and its Victims”, explains how the law encouraged kidnappings in the North.

But, from time to time, the law did offer protection and justice to slaves. From her prison cell in 1829, notorious kidnapper and murderer Patty Cannon tells Abolition News Network how she lured free men and women into slavery with the promise of work.

In some situations, the law permitted slaves to gain their freedom. Abolitionist Attorney, Ellis Gray Loring, shares the details if a case he has just won. Med, a slave servant from New Orleans, is freed because her owners took her to the free state of Massachusetts.

WARNING: Some scenes may be disturbing to the viewers as either the subject matter, personalities, or their spoken language may be offensive in the 21st century. Teachers be advised.

VOlume 7 www.americanslavehistory.com

Steve Edison, founder of the Abolition News Network, has led the nonprofit in the research, development and production of DVDs about the history of slavery for more than seven years.

The series is comprised of interviews with historical figures who discuss their experiences during the abolition period.

This project has been meticulously researched and adapted for presentation in this format by Edison.