Americas
Abolitionist History:
The True American Revolution - Liberating
Enslaved Black America During the 19th Century / Early 1800’s
The Integrated Abolitionist-American Liberation
Movement for the Freedom of Enslaved Black Americans by the Abolitionist /Anti-Slavery Movement
A time in history has
passed us and has gone unrecognized and underappreciated for many years, nearly 200 years or 173 to be exact.
During this time in Americas
past known as the Jacksonian era or the Antebellum era also known as the Abolitionist Movement era, The country was facing
changing times during the early to mid 1800’s. There were still many problems and differences between the North and
the South.
Although the cities of
America were growing during the post American/independence
revolution there were still many problems between the northern and southern states of the country. During these pre-civil
war times Abolitionist and anti-slavery proponents and advocates were active pursing the “Glorious Cause” Abolitionism
- to bring Slavery to an end in the south or throughout the country, although the north was free fugitive slave laws still
existed.
In an effort to bring
about the immediate end of slavery and have the U.S. government lives by
the word s and standards of the constitution of the United States and the declaration of independence. Anti-slavery abolitionist
such as William Lloyd Garrison, Fredrick Douglas and George Thompson were orators/speakers or published news papers such as
Garrisons “Liberator” newspaper which was a voice of the abolitionist community of the Glorious Cause.
These Abolitionist/Anti-Slavery
groups and organizations convened meetings, conventions and strived for the fight to bring an end to slavery against multitudes
of oppressive “slave forces”., they served as the freedom fighters of their time. If not for these brave citizens
who strived for an the of slavery and slave laws and called for America
to live up to the words of the American construction, Slavery in the south may have continued for many more years.
The abolitionist of the
18th and 19th centuries in America
served as the revolutionaries who saw the flaws of this country, stood for change and an end to slavery. They gave the country
the backbone needed not only to campaign for an end of slavery in the south but give the country a moral and ethical identity
to move the country towards becoming a more civil and equality based or equal rights based society.
In essence they defined
America’s true revolutionary era, They pressured government and called for an end to slavery, their actions as served
as the foundation of President Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation of 1863, and the 13th amendment of 1865 or post
civil war-reconstruction Acts towards a more perfect union (of the North and South).
As a testament to these
tumultuous, controversial and revolutionary times of change in America, Today we should recognize those in our past who contributed
to what could be truly called the United States of America, Abolitionist constantly fought for their rights: The Right of
freedom of Speech and their public right to meet and convene and freedom of the press.
In order to create this
change revolutionary abolitionist faced Mobs, lynch mobs, protestors and other ruffian opponents which often times turned
into conflicts and riots similar to the civil rights movements of the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s.
One of the greatest milestones
of the antislavery abolitionist movements took place or was erected here in the city of Boston.
But to the contrary this incident also marks “a disgraceful spot in Boston’s
history”.
This Event and incident
took place on the grounds of what is now City Hall and Government Center, and a stone’s throw or not to far from the
old city hall of the early 19th century which also previously was
the State house of the 18th century during the patriotic revolution of the 1700’s.
The time was 1835 and
the place was Washington Street (now on government center) at Cornhill, This landmark spot was the place where the Boston
Riot of 1835 took place which was a milestone in Anti-Slavery – Abolitionist Movement history where “The Boston
Mob of Gentlemen of property and Standing rioted against an anti-slavery meeting of The Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society
with William Lloyd Garrison – Publisher of the Liberator Abolitionist newspaper. Through the disgrace of the riot Abolitionist
history was created at this spot and at this historic address..The historic location of Garrison’s Office of the Liberator
newspaper, the Location of the Antislavery Office and the Hall where Anti-slavery Society, Organizational Group meetings were
held.
Boston’s
Landmark History
STACY HALL, 46 Washington Street (at Cornhill), The Anti-Slavery Office &
Office of William Lloyd Garrisons Liberator Newspaper (1835).
This site was the site of the climactic Anti-Slavery (Garrison/Thompson - BFASS) meeting at Stacy
Hall (the office of The Liberator newspaper of 1831). The meeting was of a culmination of several historical events regarding
the abolition of slavery which happened in other cities and states including Boston in August of 1835 at Faneuil Hall (1500
most prominent citizens in address of the issue of slavery and the union “to denounce the agitation of the question
of slavery as putting in peril the existence of the union” speakers used opprobrious language toward George Thompson
& the Anti-Slavery cause), which wrought the city up to a pitch of insanity. The Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society along
with William Lloyd Garrison Publisher of The Liberator was driven from this address Stacy Hall (they were rejected from meeting
at Faneuil Hall) by a lynch mob “The Boston Mob” on October 21st 1835. William Lloyd Garrison was roped
with a noose around his body (neck and arms) and dragged away, bare headed - with his clothes nearly torn from his body -
through the streets (to be tarred and feathered) by the mob nearly to the door of Old City Hall (The Old State House). The
mob (of 5000) also thought that the leading British Abolitionist George Thompson was invited to speak and at the meeting,
because a placard was circulated through the business portion of the city, announcing the fact that he would be present, but
he was not asked to be at the meeting, It was a false statement Mr. Thompson was not to be there. The incident came to be
known as “The Boston Riot of 1835” the date is a landmark date in Boston’s Abolitionist history, and this
nation’s Confrontational history regarding the Abolition of slavery.
The previous or other related meetings or large mob incidents to break-up meeting or drive colored
inhabitants out of their homes took place in New York in 1833, “where the notorious Garrison would be present”,
Montpelier, Vermont (Anti-Slavery Convention), Philadelphia in the summer of 1835, also
Charleston S.C. and in Utica, N Y, also this very day twenty years ago.
20 years later – on the Anniversary of the climatic event of the meeting at Stacy Hall -
The Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society Assembled on This identical site again “which was the scene of the ever memorable
outbreak of 1835”. On Sunday October 21st at 2:00 in unpropitious (conflicting) weather and the Hall was
filled to its utmost capacity”.
On that day in 1835 William Lloyd Garrison was rescued with difficulty by the Mayor of Boston at
that time, Mayor Theodore Lyman and his constable. Unfortunately William Lloyd Garrison spent that night at the Leverett Street
Jail (Charles Street Jail) it was the only place of safety to be found in the city.
The date marks the progress and challenges of the Anti-slavery Movement as an important constructive
instrument and voice against Slavery, as the Anti-Slavery organizations and Abolitionist newspaper publications that took
leadership into their own hands and moved the country towards Universal Freedom for all Negros/colored Black Americans (enslaved)
and created the foundation on a later date for President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 and the controversial
Reconstruction Era during the mid-1800’s in U.S. History.
