The Path to Aboliton - 1312 Words

Abolitionists from the 1820-1860 found it necessary to use certain strategies to appeal to the social and political minds of Americans striving to influence the participation of the abolition movement. One of the many strategies used by American abolitionists was the use of slave narratives. This moral persuasion was a very useful tactic. The creation of these narratives helped white northerners identify with the mindset of an African American slave in the south. The narratives illustrated the experiences slaves overcame to find freedom. Another major strategy that was useful to the slavery movement was the involvement of women abolitionists. As abolitionists, they started reaching out to the public by creating petitions, letters, poems, and articles to rectify the common issue of slavery. The use of slave narratives and publications allowed abolitionists to spread the abolition cause. With these tactics in use, the abolition movement became the foundation of the search for freedom o f those who were enslaved. The ability to read and write, for slaves, was a form of freedom they could achieve themselves. Add in a slave talking about his desire to learn. This intellectual freedom allowed them to maintain relationships that were torn apart by the traditions of slavery. The exercise of reading and writing was dangerous for slaves and their teachers and it was illegal. The punishment for such a crime would be unusually cruel and severe for anyone who was caught in the act or