Abolitionist Movement: Fighting for Freedom and Equality

1. Social Issues of 2013

2. Each era is remembered for something:1920’s – Roaring Twenties, Ford Model T1930’s – The Great Depression1950’s – car, tv, rock n’ roll, rise of middle class America1960’s – Space Race, Civil Rights1970’s – Vietnam, protests 2013?

3. Slavery • At the time, there were many sides to the story, many opinions • Southerners, Northerners, free African Americans, business owners, workers, plantation owners, Quakers, indentured servants, poor whites • Politicians hesitant to lay down the law (fearing the loss of their own job)

4. Slavery • It took hundreds of years to build up to the conclusion of overt slavery in America • Some argue covert forms of slavery still exist today around the world • http://www.pbs.org/wnet/slavery/timeline/index.html

5. Slavery • At the debate’s height, thousands spoke out against slavery…abolitionists • A person who favors the ending of a practice or institution (ex. capital punishment or slavery) • Not all abolitionists felt the same: total freedom, earned freedom (payment), “50 acres and a mule,” freedom but not equality, etc.

6. Abolitionist • The movement stalled many times along the way to gaining equality for African Americans • Especially, when the group (abolitionists) are splintered themselves about: • How to end slavery (state or federal govt.) • To what degree should slavery be stopped • Who will take care of all these newly freed persons • Where will they all go • etc.

7. Abolitionists • The fight was long and messy • 1865 – Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery • 1870 – Fifteenth Amendment right to vote: black, adult males • 1960’s – Civil Rights movement • Equality in pay, jobs, education, etc. • Equal opportunity

9. Abolitionists • SWBAT: Define abolitionSBWAT: Identify a historic abolitionist and his/her relationship with slavery/civil rights • How? • Creating a mirage of pictures that illustrates a researched abolitionist