Mightier that the Sword Chapter 2: Abolition

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/03/23121622/6
Abolition was a growing movement over the course of the nineteenth century.  There purpose was to reclaim the freedom and civil liberties that had been stolen from those chained in slavery.  Streitmatter in this chapter illustrates that the momentum that lead to the freeing of all those enslaved in our country was not solely an issue of race. 

As the world began to move toward the Industrialized era, the North became more and more industrialized.  Factories began to spring up all around this part of the nation and shifted business practices.  In the South, however, business practices remained relatively unaffected by industrialization.  Southern societies relied heavily on agriculture as their main source of income.  These businessmen saw slavery as a very effective means to keep 'production' running and to see a continued influx of profits.

Abolitionists saw these practices as heinous and unforgivable.  Their early attempts tried to appeal to slave owners decency and religious obligations to convince them to willingly free their slaves, this was resoundingly unsuccessful.  It wasn't until the likes of Rev. Elijah P. Lovejoy did abolitionist movements start to gain momentum.

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USASlovejoy.htm

Lovejoy was the editor of the St. Louis Observer, later the Alton Observer, which was openly outspoken anti-slavery paper.  Lovejoy would print articles about despicable nature of slavery pleading that basic human rights be restored to the enslaved.  Lovejoy was run out of Missouri by mobs of slavery supporters that disregarded his words and ideas.  Lovejoy went Illinois were he hoped his words might be received more openly, but much to his misfortune they were not costing him his second and third printing presses.  Upon the threat of destruction of his fourth press Lovejoy lost his life in a riot by a mob.

http://www.christianwritingtoday.com/2009/02/elijah-lovejoy/

There was a massive public outcry at Lovejoy's murder and the subsequent glossing over of a criminal investigation that then followed.  This became fuel for the fire that William Lloyd Garrison would spread throughout the country against slavery.  Lovejoy became a martyr in the name of the abolitionist cause for freedom, liberty, and the preservation of American rights such as freedom of the press.


Garrison was the editor of The Liberator and spoke openly and passionately against slavery.  He never held back and used any attack against himself and his paper to gain momentum for his cause.  He'd reprinting and argue against any such attack giving his subscribers a more thought provoking read.  Pro-slavery supporters took a clear stance against Garrison and his ideas even to the point of offering bounties for Garrison and anyone distributing The Liberator.  Garrison was steadfast and did not allow any opposition to stand in his way, even with the threat of death.

The black press also incited support for the abolitionist movement.  Maria Stewart, a black woman, refused to accept the role given to her by a male society and wrote in Garrison's liberator about the unforgivable nature of slavery.  Her ideas were based around education being the means of elavating African Americans from their status as slaves.

http://www.americanswhotellthetruth.org/pgs/portraits/Frederick_Douglas.php

Fredrick Douglass also became famous for his writing in his paper the North Star.  He would speak of his time as a slave.  This would lead to the dismissal of the idea of a kind slave masters that kept slaves to give them better lives.  His past, along with his intelligence and superb writing skill, opened the nation's eyes to the truth that African Americans were truly equals and were being seriously opressed as slaves.

http://clevelandcivilwarroundtable.com/articles/biography/garrison.htm

Garrison, along with Lovejoy's sacrifice, ignited a national awareness that would eventually lead to the Civil War and the eventual freeing of all slaves.  A stirring of such a public outcry against slavery inspired Horace Greeley to form the Republic Party in response.  This would of course lead to the inevitable election of Abraham Lincoln who would bring the abolitionist cause to the political arena.  Upon the end of the Civil War and the freeing of all those enslaved Garrison became a hero of the nation who fought unwavering in the face of many.  The courage of Garrison, Stewart, and Douglass allowed for a major change in American society, business, and government, all through the power of strong, truthful, and inspiring journalism.