abolitionism and sectionalism -...

Abolitionism and Sectionalism The Road to the Civil War

Created by Denise Dooley-Albemarle Road Middle School, Charlotte, NC

Abolitionist • Abolitionist believed slavery should be abolished.

• Most abolitionist lived in the north; however, there were abolitionist that lived in the south as well.

• Many escaped slaves moved north and became abolitionist.

• They gave speeches and published books and pamphlets denouncing slavery.

• The movement to end slavery was called abolitionism, it gained momentum around 1820.


Frederick Douglas • Frederick Douglass was

one of the foremost leaders of the abolitionist movement.

• Although born a slave he became recognized as one of America's first great black speakers.

• He won world fame when his autobiography was publicized in 1845.


David Walker • Was born the son of a free

mother and enslaved father in Wilmington, NC.

• Moved to Boston and became active in the abolitionist movement.

• Published a pamphlet that showed the cruelty of slavery.

• Walkers book was banned in the south.


Slave Codes • As a result of Walker’s book southern states

enacted slave codes.

• Slaves codes were strict laws that forbade educating slaves and kept them from leaving the plantation without the owner’s permission.

• Slave codes upset many slaves and abolitionists.


Nat Turner • Was slave and a preacher in Southhampton

County Virginia, that believed God sent him a message to free the slaves.

• This was to be a massive uprising but in August 1831 he gathered only about 75 slaves for the rebellion.

• The rebellion killed about 50 whites, including a child.

• Nat Turner was hanged in November, 1831.


Nat Turner


Harriet Tubman • Born a slave she was

brutally abused by her master.

• She escaped north along the underground railroad.

• She returned some 19 odd times and helped hundreds of slaves escaped to freedom using the underground railroad.


Underground Railroad • Abolitionist formed a loose network of people that

would protect escaped slaves as they traveled from the south into the freedom of the Northern regions and Canada.

• Escaped slaves would travel on foot, by boat, horseback, or wagon led by people called conductors.

• Participants/Conductors in the railroad used signals such as handshakes, and lanterns in the window to let slaves know they kept a safe house.

• Slaves also used songs and quilts to communicate when and where to escape safely.


President James K. Polk (1845-1849) • Born in Mecklenburg County

North Carolina.

• Actively pursued westward expansion and manifest destiny.

• Under his presidency the territories of Oregon, California, and Texas were added to the union.

• These new territories raised the question of whether slavery should be allowed in the new territory.


Harriet Beecher Stowe • Harriet Beecher Stowe

cared deeply about human rights. Her family was active in the Underground Railroad.

• Stowe decided to write a fictional story about slavery and sent it to the editor of an anti-slavery weekly.


http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/reform/jb_reform_beecher_1_e.html�

Uncle Tom’s Cabin • People started to discuss Uncle Tom's Cabin and pass

around the story.

• Three hundred thousand copies were sold the first year, and a half-million copies by 1857. Before long it seemed that everyone had read it, including the president of the United States!

• The book divided people into those who wished to abolish slavery (abolitionists) and those who wished to maintain slavery (anti-abolitionists), it is often listed as one of the causes of the Civil War.


John Brown • John Brown was a preacher from Ohio.

• He was passionate about freeing slaves.

• He had a plan to arm slaves to fight for their freedom.

• On October 16, 1859, he led 21 men on a raid of the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia.


North vs. South (Sectionalism) • The economy of the North along with the

abolitionist movement in the north led the South to believe the plantation system and their way of life was under attack.

• The 1850’s became a turbulent times for America. The issue of slavery would eventually lead to war.


Laws • As abolitionist worked to end slavery states in

the south passed laws were intended to maintain the institution.

• North Carolina was no exception, the North Carolina General Assembly passed laws that were meant to enforce slavery.


Sources • http://schools-wikipedia.org/wp/j/James_K._Polk.htm

• http://www.frederickdouglass.org/

• http://www.africawithin.com/bios/walker_appeal.htm

• http://www.americaslibrary.gov/aa/tubman/aa_tubman_subj.html

• http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/reform/jb_reform_beecher_1_e.html

• http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/johnbrown/brownhome.html


http://schools-wikipedia.org/wp/j/James_K._Polk.htm�

http://www.frederickdouglass.org/�

http://www.africawithin.com/bios/walker_appeal.htm�

http://www.americaslibrary.gov/aa/tubman/aa_tubman_subj.html�



http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/johnbrown/brownhome.html�

http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/johnbrown/brownhome.html�

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