The Abolitionist Movement2
By the mid-1800s, slavery was becoming a very divisive topic for Americans. Geographically, slavery was most prominent in the south-eastern states of the U.S. As the U.S. expanded under Manifest Destiny, slavery became an intense political issue. As new states were created, some states voted to include slavery, while other states voted against it. Congress attempted to keep the number of 'slave' and 'free' states equal to maintain equal balance of power in the government for both sides.
Arguably, the United States needed slavery for the money. Southern farmers had learned to grow large amounts of cotton, a much desired material for use in new factories in the northern region of the U.S. and worldwide. The more cotton southern farmers grew, the more money they could make selling it in the U.S. and in worldwide trade markets. The more money farmers could make, the more cotton they would grow. The more cotton they grew, the more land and workers they needed to help them farm. Slavery, the cheapest form of labor, became a necessary way of life for people in the south. The Abolitionist Movement was a movement during the 1800s that sought to abolish, or bring an end to, the practice of slavery in the United States. Abolitionist leaders used various methods to end slavery, a practice that had become an accepted way of life in America. On the following pages you will read about this movement and how it worked to end slavery. As you read, complete your notes on the Abolitionist Movement. |
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