The proposals and methods used by the abolitionists differed from those implemented by earlier antislavery movements since the latter was more focused on republican values of equality and liberty. The antislavery movements wanted captivity to be gradually brought to an end. Some of their approaches included the passing of the Gradual Abolition of Slavery Act by the Pennsylvania legislature in 1780 (Sinha, 2016). This was the government’s first effort in abolishing servitude. The law stated that children who were born in Pennsylvania were free regardless of the race or status of their parents. However, the gradual emancipation as stipulated by the passed law was not inclusive of the adults who had already been slaves before the law was passed.
The abolitionists, on the other hand, wanted speedy and unconditional emancipation. They were energized by the Second Awakening and the Christianity teachings that claimed slavery was a mortal sin. Since servitude was seen as evil, they wanted it to be abolished immediately and not overtime. The abolitionists viewed the constitution as an agreement with slavery and some of them, under the leadership of William Lloyd Garrison, burnt copies of the constitution in public. Some slavery and abolitionist newspapers, books, reports, and speeches were printed and distributed (Sinha, 2016). Other abolitionists provided their support by aiding in the construction of the Underground Railroad.
The proposals and methods used by abolitionists brought hostility in the North and South. The whites were against the idea of coexistence and being equals to the slaves. The Southerners developed fears of slave revolt while the White Northerners were worried about losing their superior status and income. Moreover, the poor white laborers were terrified that the blacks would move north and take their jobs.
Reference
Sinha, M. (2016). The slave’s cause: A history of abolition. Yale University Press.