Before the Civil War the United States (U.S.) experienced a time period that was highlighted by increased sectionalism called the antebellum period. The antebellum time period was from 1819 to 1860 and economic, political, and social issues started to divide the various regions of the U.S. This sectionalism, or loyalty towards a particular region, started to develop between the North and South over the practice of slavery. Also during this time period the U.S. was expanding westward and the addition of this new territory caused the two regions to further divide because of their strong feelings on whether or not slavery should expand into these newly added regions. The Age of Reform also occurred during the antebellum period. One of the
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While there were people that worked to abolish, or end, slavery in all parts of the U.S. many Northern states worked the hardest. There were many thoughts on how to end slavery. Some people believed that gradualism was the best way. This meant that slavery would end over a long period of time. Other people believed in emancipation or the immediate freeing of all the slaves without compensation. People who supported the Abolition Movement believed that slavery was morally wrong. Former slaves like Frederick Douglass often spoke out for the Abolition Movement and worked by publishing his newspaper called the “North Star”. In the newspaper and speeches he talked about how poorly slaves were treated and how they lacked any rights (A Speech by Frederick Douglass). Similarly to Frederick Douglass, other abolitionists also supported the equality of the races. These people would be considered “radical” because many people did not believe in this idea. William Lloyd Garrison is a prime example of a “radical” abolitionist who published articles in his newspaper the “Liberator” and encouraged people to fight to give blacks their rights. Some people were horrified by the news of the poor conditions that slaves experienced. Families were often broken up because the slave owner decided to sell them or could in certain circumstances kill them (“What Caused the Break Up of Slave Families?”). Northerners increasingly supported emancipation due to an increase of abolition newspapers and pamphlets. An example of a pamphlet would be the “Anti-Slavery Almanac” and its political cartoon depicting “A Northern Freeman Enslaved by Northern Hand.” This political cartoon tells the story of a black man, most likely a free black who had never been a slave being captured to be sold as a slave. While culture in the North was typically based in abolition, this cartoon helps to
While there were people that worked to abolish, or end, slavery in all parts of the U.S. many Northern states worked the hardest. There were many thoughts on how to end slavery. Some people believed that gradualism was the best way. This meant that slavery would end over a long period of time. Other people believed in emancipation or the immediate freeing of all the slaves without compensation. People who supported the Abolition Movement believed that slavery was morally wrong. Former slaves like Frederick Douglass often spoke out for the Abolition Movement and worked by publishing his newspaper called the “North Star”. In the newspaper and speeches he talked about how poorly slaves were treated and how they lacked any rights (A Speech by Frederick Douglass). Similarly to Frederick Douglass, other abolitionists also supported the equality of the races. These people would be considered “radical” because many people did not believe in this idea. William Lloyd Garrison is a prime example of a “radical” abolitionist who published articles in his newspaper the “Liberator” and encouraged people to fight to give blacks their rights. Some people were horrified by the news of the poor conditions that slaves experienced. Families were often broken up because the slave owner decided to sell them or could in certain circumstances kill them (“What Caused the Break Up of Slave Families?”). Northerners increasingly supported emancipation due to an increase of abolition newspapers and pamphlets. An example of a pamphlet would be the “Anti-Slavery Almanac” and its political cartoon depicting “A Northern Freeman Enslaved by Northern Hand.” This political cartoon tells the story of a black man, most likely a free black who had never been a slave being captured to be sold as a slave. While culture in the North was typically based in abolition, this cartoon helps to