Emancipation movements in North America from 1861 - 1864 were motivated by many factors, in the long and short-term. Emancipation movements such as Abraham Lincoln and the Republican Party and black and white abolitionists were vital to emancipation. Movements were motivated by factors such as Abraham Lincoln’s desire for a united America, slaves’ desire for a better life, resistance and rebellion, westward expansion and external pressures. The long-term North/South conflict resulting in the Civil War was arguably the most significant factor in abolition. Humanitarian ideals, associated with improving the welfare of other human beings played a less central but vital role in motivating emancipation movements. No particular factor can be directly
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Most slaves would do anything to escape and many risked their lives for the possibility of freedom. Harriet Tubman escaped slavery in 1849 along the Underground Railroad. She made 19 trips back through the Underground Railroad and saved over 300 slaves over 11 years (Math.buffalo.edu, 2015). While she was clearly motivated by humanitarian ideals, her initial motivation, like other slaves and former slaves was the hope for a better life. William Lloyd Garrison, a white journalist and abolitionist created an anti-slavery newspaper ‘the liberator’, which encouraged emancipation and equal civil and legal rights for all African-Americans (Paterson, 2015). He inspired Frederick Douglass, an escaped slave to start his own newspaper, ‘the North Star’, which outlined the injustice of slavery and educating the public on the horrors of slavery. Nat Turner, a slave, led a slave rebellion in 1831, believing he was chosen by god to lead slaves from bondage. He recruited over 40 slaves to rebel against his master and go on a murder spree. It is estimated over 55 whites were killed during his rebellion, inspiring fear in slaveholders (Biography.com, 2015). These visionary leaders inspired slaves and gave them hope for a future of freedom. Humanitarian ideals, strengthened by awareness brought about by slave resistance and rebellion strongly motivated both black and white abolitionists, but slaves and former slaves were also motivated by the want of a better life for
Most slaves would do anything to escape and many risked their lives for the possibility of freedom. Harriet Tubman escaped slavery in 1849 along the Underground Railroad. She made 19 trips back through the Underground Railroad and saved over 300 slaves over 11 years (Math.buffalo.edu, 2015). While she was clearly motivated by humanitarian ideals, her initial motivation, like other slaves and former slaves was the hope for a better life. William Lloyd Garrison, a white journalist and abolitionist created an anti-slavery newspaper ‘the liberator’, which encouraged emancipation and equal civil and legal rights for all African-Americans (Paterson, 2015). He inspired Frederick Douglass, an escaped slave to start his own newspaper, ‘the North Star’, which outlined the injustice of slavery and educating the public on the horrors of slavery. Nat Turner, a slave, led a slave rebellion in 1831, believing he was chosen by god to lead slaves from bondage. He recruited over 40 slaves to rebel against his master and go on a murder spree. It is estimated over 55 whites were killed during his rebellion, inspiring fear in slaveholders (Biography.com, 2015). These visionary leaders inspired slaves and gave them hope for a future of freedom. Humanitarian ideals, strengthened by awareness brought about by slave resistance and rebellion strongly motivated both black and white abolitionists, but slaves and former slaves were also motivated by the want of a better life for