Abolitionist Movement
Definition
The Abolitionist Movement was a social and political push for immediate emancipation of all slaves and end racial discrimination and segregation in mid-19th century America.
Analogy
Imagine you're at school, but some students are forced to stay inside during recess while others get to play outside. The abolitionists were like those students who not only recognized this unfairness but actively worked to change it so everyone could enjoy recess equally.
Related terms
Underground Railroad: A network of secret routes used by enslaved African Americans to escape into free states or Canada with assistance from abolitionists.
Harriet Tubman: An American abolitionist known for her role as a "conductor" on the Underground Railroad helping slaves escape from bondage.
Emancipation Proclamation: An executive order issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862 that declared all slaves in Confederate-held territory to be free.
"Abolitionist Movement" appears in:
Subjects (1)
Study guides (3)
Practice Questions (9)
- Which of the following is an effect of the abolitionist movement? (Choose one)
- How did the Compromise of 1850 impact the abolitionist movement in the United States?
- Which of the following best compares the views of the abolitionist movement and the women's rights movement in the mid-19th century?
- Which technological development indirectly contributed to the abolitionist movement in America?
- Which event played a significant role in the abolitionist movement gaining momentum in North America?
- Which political party emerged from the abolitionist movement during the age of reform?
- How would the abolitionist movement have been different if Nat Turner's rebellion had never occurred?
- How might Southern society have evolved had an abolitionist movement similar to that of the North emerged within its borders?
- What persistent aspect influenced US social reform movements from the Abolitionist movement to the Civil Rights Movement?
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