Abolitionist+Movement+in+America

The abolitionist movement is an ongoing project that never seems to go away but has improved over time. The disagreement over the movement had enough power to split a nation. One thing to keep in mind, the past always seems to reappear in the future.

First, let’s understand abolition is an “attempt to end slavery once and for all” (Abolition). During the time period of slavery there was major disagreement amongst Americans. The split separated the United States into two parts, the North and the South. Southerners felt slavery kept the economy going, and without slavery our economy would decline (Abolition). Although the majority of abolitionists were in the north, there are some southerners who worked hard to end slavery. All the people who teamed up and worked towards the common goal, abolition, created the abolitionist movement.

In order for the abolitionist movement to occur, people needed to step up and lead others to the destination. Many Americans became leaders, but there are certain leaders who threw the obstacle on their back and made a major impact towards the common goal, the abolitionist movement. One notable leader is Harriet Tubman who led the Underground Railroad movement and was referred to as “the Moses” of her people (Maschi, Bob). Rosa Parks is also a leader who rebelled against the laws. Another abolitionist leader who had a major impact was Fredrick Douglas. Douglas could be referred to as the spokesperson for the abolitionist movement (Frederick Douglass--Abolitionist Leader). Together these 3 leaders and many others came together to succeed with the abolitionist movement.

During the time period of Mark Twain’s book //The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn//, African Americans weren’t viewed as people but rather property. The government set up laws, the fugitive slave law, which seriously punished any slaves who escaped. Also Southerners were being paid to take blacks from the North to the South because blacks were free in the North, but once they moved into the South they became slaves (Fugitive Slave Law).

African Americans were discriminated and treated unfairly against during this time period. Blacks weren’t allowed to go to school or eat at the same building as white people. Equality wasn’t even allowed for little things such as drinking out of a water fountain. The prejudice people acted as if blacks were poisonous and they couldn’t spend time around any black people. Once people started to realize how wrong the prejudice’s theory was, they began to work together to abolish slavery.

Since African Americans had been demeaned and mistreated, they wanted written proof to show they would be equal with the whites. In order to accomplish what the African Americans wanted, congress edited the amendments. The amendments banned slavery, gave all citizens the right to vote, and equal protection for all citizens. The written documents gave comfort to the black society but freedom was still an issue (Changes to the Constitution).

Over time blacks and whites have become close to being equal. Of course though, one’s past always plays into the future. Let’s hope the lunges America has taken are great enough to bury this past in the grave where it belongs.

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Sam