Abolitionist like William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglass believed that enslavement was a moral wrong and should be abolished immediately, without compensation to owners of enslaved people. They argued that enslavement was a sin and that it violated the fundamental rights of individuals to freedom.
2. Equality of all human beings:
Abolitionists believed that all human beings are created equal and that they deserve the same rights and opportunities regardless of their race or background. They rejected the idea of racial superiority and argued that Black people were just as capable and deserving of freedom as white people.
3. Nonviolence and moral suasion:
Abolitionist like William Ladd and Adin Ballou believed that the use of violence to achieve abolition was morally wrong and counterproductive. Instead, they advocated for moral suasion—convincing people of the evils of enslavement through peaceful means such as education, public speaking, and literature.
4. Political Activism:
Many abolitionists were active in politics and worked to pass laws and constitutional amendments to end enslavement. They lobbied lawmakers, held conventions and rallies, and ran for office themselves. Some, such as Thaddeus Stevens and Charles Sumner, played a key role in the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which abolished slavery in 1865.
5. Civil Disobedience:
Some abolitionists, such as Henry Highland Garnet and John Brown, believed that more drastic measures were necessary to achieve abolition. They advocated for civil disobedience, including the aiding of escaped enslaver, and armed resistance against slavery. Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859 was a notable example of this approach.
6. Intersectionality:
Many abolitionists were also involved in other social reform movements, such as women’s rights, peace, and temperance. They recognized the interconnectedness of these issues and understood that systemic change required addressing multiple forms of oppression. Notable figures in this regard include Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, and Lucy Stone.