Frederick Douglass Reacts
In 1833, Frederick Douglass was sent to a slave breaker to be beaten back into submission. After six months of beatings, Douglass fought back. "I was nothing before. I was a man now."
The Massachusetts 54th
With the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, the war merged with the abolitionist cause. The Proclamation had included an unexpected clause: at last, black men could enlist in the armed services of the United States.
Fugitive Slave Act
The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 made the hunting down of escaped slaves, even in free states, fully legal. To abolitionists, this represented a huge blow to their efforts. Not only had the federal government endorsed slavery, but it had also committed to preserving the institution indefinitely.
A Eulogy to the Movement
At the death of William Lloyd Garrison in 1879, Frederick Douglass offers a eulogy to the abolitionists and to the movement itself.
Garrison Introduces Douglass
William Lloyd Garrison speaks to a crowd of abolitionists in Nantucket, Massachusetts. He introduces the self-emancipated Frederick Douglass, soon leading to a powerful partnership with a common cause -- immediate abolition of slavery.
Frederick Douglass Begins to Understand Slavery
At six years old, Frederick Douglass had just begun his life as a slave when he witnessed his aunt get beaten brutally by her master. "It was the bloodstained gate, the entrance to the hell of slavery," he would later write.
Angelina Grimke Goes Public
After reading reports of pro-slavery violence, Angelina Grimke decided she could remain silent no longer. She published a letter in "The Liberator" and wrote "An Appeal to the Women of the South," urging them to work for the downfall of slavery.
William Lloyd Garrison arrives in Boston
At 22, William Lloyd Garrison moved to Boston and settles on the abolition of slavery as the cause that will give meaning to his life.
Burning Abolitionist Literature
The Anti-Slavery Society's great postal campaign of 1835 flooded the South with abolitionist literature. Instead of bringing about the end of slavery, it triggered a wave of repression. In Charleston, SC, 3,000 people gathered in Post Office square to destroy anti-slavery materials and burn Garrison in effigy.
Angelina Grimke Rebels
The daughter of one of South Carolina's first families, Angelina Grimke lived in luxury. But she also believed slavery was a sin and God would punish people who had slaves.
Garrison Publishes "The Liberator"
William Lloyd Garrison published the first issue of "The Liberator" on January 1, 1831 with financial support from both black and white abolitionists. "There shall be no neutrals," he declared. "Men shall either like or dislike me."
Angelina Leaves Home
In the fall of 1829, Angelina Grimke resolved to leave Charleston and the pollutions of slavery, for an uncertain future in the North
Harriet Beecher Stowe Visits a Slave State
Having recently moved to Cincinnati with her family, Harriet Beecher visited the slave state of Kentucky in 1833, staying here at the Marshall Key House. While in Kentucky, she witnessed slavery up close for the first time. The house now operates as the Harriet Beecher Stowe, Slavery to Freedom Museum.
The Abolitionists Extended Preview
A preview for "The Abolitionists," premiering January 8, 15 & 22, 2013.
The Civil War Begins
In April 1861, the American Civil War began, reuniting abolitionists who had grown apart in recent years.
Two Abolitionists Unite
Abolitionist activists Angelina Grimke and Theodore Weld declared their love for one another and got married in 1838. Both a black and a white minister officiated and mixed-race guests intermingled freely. News of the event caused a stir in Philadelphia.
Frederick Douglass Finds Freedom
After having escaped to New York, Frederick Douglass and his wife Anna moved to New Bedford, Massachusetts. Douglass did hard manual labor to provide for his family for three years before making a fateful trip to Nantucket.
Douglass Publishes "The North Star"
In Rochester, New York, the last stop on the Underground Railroad, Frederick Douglass published abolitionist newspaper "The North Star," naming it after the icon followed by so many escaping slaves on their quest to freedom.
Garrison Gets Attacked
On October 21, 1835, William Lloyd Garrison was headed to give an anti-slavery lecture at the Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society. An anti-abolitionist mob dragged him out of hiding and threatened his life, but two burly men took pity on Garrison and he ended up spending the night in jail for his own protection.
Garrison Closes The Liberator
After four decades and 1,803 issues, William Lloyd Garrison closed The Liberator after the 13th Amendment was added to the constitution. He could continue to fight for equal rights, dying in 1879 at age 73.
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