Abolition was the movement to end slavery. Many people worked to abolish slavery in the states. By 1804, most Northern states had banned slavery. In 1807 Congress forbid the importing of slaves into the United States. Abolitionists wanted to end slavery in the south. Two people who worked very hard to squelch slavery were Frederick Douglass and Sojourner Truth. They both spoke from their own experiences.
Frederick Douglass was the son of a black mother and a white father. He published an autobiography about his own slave experiences in 1845. He went to Great Britain and Ireland to escape becoming recaptured. He also changed his last name. When he returned he bought his freedom and started publishing an antislavery newspaper.
Sojourner Truth began her life as a slave in New York State. She ran from her owners and went to live with Quakers, who set her free in 1827. Once free, she won a court battle to reclaim her son, who was sold illegally into slavery. Many came to watch when she spoke about abolition.
Harriet Tubman is one of the most iconic figures who stood for the abolition of slavery. She was born into slavery in Maryland. In 1849, she learned that her owner was about to sell her, but she escaped before she could be sold. After she escaped she made 19 journeys to help free slaves who had escaped their owners. Harriet carried a pistol to scare off slave hunters. She also had medicine to quiet crying babies. There was a $40,000 reward for her capture, but no one caught her.
Frederick Douglass was the son of a black mother and a white father. He published an autobiography about his own slave experiences in 1845. He went to Great Britain and Ireland to escape becoming recaptured. He also changed his last name. When he returned he bought his freedom and started publishing an antislavery newspaper.
Sojourner Truth began her life as a slave in New York State. She ran from her owners and went to live with Quakers, who set her free in 1827. Once free, she won a court battle to reclaim her son, who was sold illegally into slavery. Many came to watch when she spoke about abolition.
Harriet Tubman is one of the most iconic figures who stood for the abolition of slavery. She was born into slavery in Maryland. In 1849, she learned that her owner was about to sell her, but she escaped before she could be sold. After she escaped she made 19 journeys to help free slaves who had escaped their owners. Harriet carried a pistol to scare off slave hunters. She also had medicine to quiet crying babies. There was a $40,000 reward for her capture, but no one caught her.
"I never run my train off the track and I never lost a passenger."
-Harriet Tubman
She was speaking of the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad was a way for slaves seeking freedom to escape the harsh living conditions. They traveled on foot to various safe houses, making their way to the north, where they would be free from slavery. It's estimated that 40,000 to 100,000 people used to Underground Railroad to gain their freedom.
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