Civil War History - Secession and PoliticsWas it Slavery, or was it States Rights? Perhaps it was the election of Lincoln? What were the real reasons for Southern Secession and what were the political issues in this time of war? Find your answers here in the Secession and Politics Disussion.
This is some background from some of my notes as I was studying John Quincy Adams. I thought they might be pertinent here as much of this was early fuel for secessionist talk.
Abolitionism 1835-1845
Publicly:
In the 1830's, abolitionist Theodore Weld, who had helped create the newly-formed American Anti-slavery Society, became an editor of "The Emancipator" - an abolitionist journal. His speaking engagements were electrifying as he went all over the country (in the north).
He linked with two sisters from (incredibly) South Carolina, Sarah and Angelina Grimke - two sisters who would prove important to the abolitionist movement. Both were women who were allowed to speak in public forums about abolition when they moved to Philadelphia.
This early group of abolitionists recruited dozens more abolitionists so that by 1838, with the help of the steam press, abolitionism was a public force in society. Although this abolition force had difficulty getting publications into the southern states, it worried southern congressmen as they feared slave uprisings and political party issues from these political pamphlets.
Many of the early pamphlets were "cartoons" of slave masters beating slaves. Southern plantation owners knew that literacy wasn't necessary with these political cartoons. Slaves might see these and they would understand their meaning.
Although abolition was still widely unpopular, the late 1830s saw a change in perception. There were small pockets of local abolitionist-friendly areas, good financial funding (from two rich abolitionists known as the Tappan brothers), lots of written material being disseminated, and a highly energized group of activists. None of this had been available just five years prior to this.
Politically:
Beginning in 1835 and exponentially growing for several years was a propaganda campaign on Congress of almost unparalleled precedent. Weld and Grimke's work as activists started a petition campaign on Congress to stop slavery in Washington D.C. (which would eventually be spearheaded in the House of Rep. by the venerable John Quincy Adams). Thousands of petitions directed by abolitionists flowed into the House on this subject.
This overflow of anti-slavery petitions produced great concern in the House and Senate as these bodies were supposed to address such petitions (does anyone remember "the right to petition" in the First Amendment?). Southern congressmen were outraged at these petitions.
So upset was congress, that the democratic-dominated House introduced the notorious Gag Rule meant strictly to squash any attempt to even discuss the subject of slavery in the House.
This was difficult, however, as soon these petitions would include the discussion about the annexation of Texas as a slave state - something that was more difficult to avoid. A contentious set of arguments arose. Lines were drawn and political alliances created. Argument defenses from the south began to include more of a "slavery is really an inherent good" justification from southern senators. Over the next couple of years, more anti-slave petitions piled up on the doorstep of congress.
These issues morphed but continued for about 9-10 years until the Mexican War and the annexation of Texas. Because the arguments became so labored in both houses of congress and because northern abolitionists were so active in the public arena, the issue of slavery began to be a consistent public headline in some form until the Civil War.
The crowning achievement in these early years was Weld's publication of "American Slavery: As It Is" which sold a staggering number of copies in 1839. If you recall, the Grimke sisters were from South Carolina and Weld now had first-hand reports to add to this publication about slave abuse (amateur propaganda, but very effective).
Weld's book would eventually be the prime source of Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin" in 1852 - the largest selling book at the time just behind the Bible. Stowe credited Weld's book and it's been said that Stowe kept a copy it under her pillow while she was writing her book. Upon meeting Stowe in the White House, Lincoln was reported to have said, "So this is the little lady who started this great war!"
These issues were the predecessor events leading up to the tortured headlines of the 1850s. Abolitionism created a stewing cauldron that would simmer for over two decades until it forced divisions too great to heal and broke into civil war.
Remember, Abolition is not a "ism" in itself. It was not a political movement. Abolition was a social or civil rights movement that political parties would either supported it or fought it if it help them policily
Abolition was about social justice or social justice movement.
The great service that Abolitionism performed during the years before the CW, was to focus the attention of free citizens on the 'fact' that slavery existed in a land dedicated to freedom.
Without slavery side by side with them, many northerns were content to live in a 'out of sight; out of mind' dreamworld. As long as racism and slavery were allowed to exist as one in justifying slavery, the avg. northerner was content to let the slavery of the south go unexamined, as to what the peculiar institution meant to whole country and not to only one section.
But the agitation of the Abolitionists, forced many to examine their basic beliefs for society and gov't. They were forced to question, 'was a slave, a human being?' 'was slavery, actually' necessary in a free country?' 'was slavery compatible with an economy based on free labor' 'If a slave was a human being, like me; can I really say "that persons deserves to be a slave, But not me?"
etc., etc., etc.
The Abolition Movement, helped to breake the tie and separated racism from the institution of slavery i.e., one could still be a racist and Still oppose slavery.
Once the attention of the avg citizen in the north was fixed on the existence of slavery, it soon became evident from observation that whatever the benefits of slavery might have been, it was increasingly obvious that it no longer was indispensible to the body politic and would increasingly, be seen to be more of a danger than a friend to the concept of freedom of the common man.
I'm sorry for repeating myself, but I highly recommend "Arguing About Slavery" an engrossing account of debate in the House of Representatives over slavery and the gag rule.
Something to think about: Abolitionism had an international aspect. Abolitionist speakers like Frederick Douglass travelled to England and Canada, ideas and funds flowed between the English speaking states.
I'm sorry for repeating myself, but I highly recommend "Arguing About Slavery" an engrossing account of debate in the House of Representatives over slavery and the gag rule.
Absolutely.
Plus Wiiliam Lee Miller is God's gift to history writers.
Anti-Slavery and Abolitionists were separate groups with differing agendas. Hundreds of Anti-Slavery societies in the North were for both freedom and allowing former slaves to remain in the US. Abolitionists, as Lincoln was until mid-1862, believed in freedom but also in African colonization, where former slaves would return to Africa, which was a racist movement. Liberia was the colony that was established by former slaves from the US. If you read the constitutions of these Anti-Slavery societies it becomes clear they were passionately advocating a place in American society for African Americans, while abolitionist detested slavery they were not for a multi-racial America.
__________________ "Those who forget to remember the past are condemned to repeat it", George Santayana.
Anti-Slavery and Abolitionists were separate groups with differing agendas. Hundreds of Anti-Slavery societies in the North were for both freedom and allowing former slaves to remain in the US. Abolitionists, as Lincoln was until mid-1862, believed in freedom but also in African colonization, where former slaves would return to Africa, which was a racist movement. Liberia was the colony that was established by former slaves from the US. If you read the constitutions of these Anti-Slavery societies it becomes clear they were passionately advocating a place in American society for African Americans, while abolitionist detested slavery they were not for a multi-racial America.
Personally, I don't believe those definitions fit quite as comfortably as you state. However, there was clearly wide variations in how people viewed freed slaves.
African recolonization societies had been around since 1817 (Madison and Jefferson had both been members). Lincoln's early idol was Henry Clay who also supported recolonization - and I suspect Lincoln's interest in the project stems from Clay. Although recolonization was indeed racist, many of those supporting recolonization were fearful of white retribution against the blacks, not black on white violence.
The attempt at recolonization in Liberia during the Monroe administration (Monrovia is named after James Monroe) failed for lack of interest more than anything else. Blacks didn't really show any interest, and the capitalist venture that was funding the ship transports to Liberia finally went bankrupt.
Yet another series of excellent posts, gentlemen! Bravo.
ole
__________________ I never knew a man who wished to be himself a slave. Consider if you know any good thing that no man desires for himself. A. Lincoln
Until the 1830s the American Colonization Society was the largest abolitionist group in the United States. Its philosophy was that abolition must be intertwined with the social and political parting of the races. Its followers saw the establishment of a colony in Africa as an act of kindness for former slaves and free African Americans, as well as a protection against agitators. In 1831 the New England Anti-Slavery Society, the largest anti-slavery group, was formed to fight for the abolition of slavery and equality between the races. Garrison's 1832 speech to this organization, that he helped to found, changed the emphasis for Anti-Slavery societies from colonization to racial equality. Abolitionist groups largely continued with the emphasis on colonization.
__________________ "Those who forget to remember the past are condemned to repeat it", George Santayana.
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