Leaders in the abolitionist movement served important roles in legitimizing the anti-slavery agenda in the antebellum ear. Such leaders, particularly those with positions in societies, served as organizers. Leaders also held decision making roles, example being William Lloyd Garrison who outlined the ideology of immediate abolitionism for his followers, the Garrisonians.
Although such leaders often lack power or a claim to legitimacy, their insights into slavery (such as Douglas’s first hand accounts of slavery), oratory skills, bravery and leadership traits gave them the specific skills need to lead the abolitionist cause. Some of these abolitionist became symbols of the movement themselves. Here is a brief list of some notable leaders of the movement and their brief descriptions.
Harriet Beecher Stowe– Famous author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin that detailed the atrocities of slavery. This book was particularly popular in the North
William Lloyd Garrison– wrote for The Liberator. He his Garrisonians advocated immediate abolitionism without compensation for slave-holders
Fredrick Douglas– Originally born a slave, Douglas later escaped and went to the North where he met William Lloyd Garrison. After rejecting some of Garrison’s views for being too radical, Douglas sought to work within the political framework to end slavery and wrote for his own paper, The North Star
Harriet Tubman- As one of the most famous members of the Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman rescued over 300 slaves from the 19 trips she made into the South
Susan B. Anthony– In addition to being an advocate for women’s rights, Susan B. Anthony also fought for the civil rights of African Americans. She worked tirelessly with the National Woman Suffrage Association and the National American Woman Suffrage Association
The Grimke Sisters– Angelina Grimke Weld and Sarah Grimke originally grew up in the South to a family that had slaves. They later left to Philadelphia and became Quakers. They worked extensively alongside Garrison and other abolitionist during the era
Sojourner Truth– Born a slave, Sojourner Truth who was originally named Isabella Baumfree, was a well known abolitionist. She is particularly well known due to her speech on equality for all races and for both men and women, titled “Ain’t I a Woman?”
Author: Gerald Espinosa
Stewart, Charles J., Craig Allen Smith and Robert E. Denton. Persuasion and Social Movements: Fourth Edition. Prospects Heights: Waveland Press, Inc. 2001.
Class Notes.
American Abolitionism Project. “Background.: Accessed November 9, 2011.
http://americanabolitionist.liberalarts.iupui.edu/biography.htm#hutchinson
http://www.class.uh.edu/gl/abol3.htm
http://www.slideshare.net/samjarecki/famous-abolitionists
http://www.nps.gov/wori/historyculture/grimke-sisters.htm
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p1539.html
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p1535.html
http://www.biography.com/people/sojourner-truth-9511284
http://www.history.rochester.edu/class/sba/third.html
http://www.americaslibrary.gov/aa/douglass/aa_douglass_leader_3_e.html
Antebellum Social Movements 