Courtney Lowe

Hybrid AP U.S. History

Mrs. Childers
25 November 2016
The Causes of Growing Opposition to Slavery
From 1776 to 1852, slavery was growing and throughout the United States.
While slavery was preferred by some, it began to cause issues with many people,
especially northerners. Many United States residents slowly began to oppose
slavery. The way slaves were mistreated; unequally, inhumane and sadistic, paved
a way to the minds of Americans, causing opposition to slavery.
Slavery was slowing losing its support when people began to realize the
wrath and destruction it brought on to families. Many Americans perceived slavery
as gentle and subdued. These perspectives were changed when Uncle Toms Cabin
was published. In 1852, a book illustrating the effects of slavery on families called
Uncle Toms Cabin was put out for the world to see. This book changed the minds
of fellow Americans by putting the reality of slavery into a familys perspective. As
shown on the poster from 1859 advertising Uncle Toms Cabin, over 270,000
copies were sold. This demonstrates the impact it had on proslavery individuals,
reversing their thoughts of slavery. As also mentioned by Angelina Grimke in her
paper, Appeal to the Christian Women of the South, families were being
destroyed and ripped apart when their kids and husbands were taken away and sold
as slaves. It was made clear to people who were proslavery how scarring it was to
innocent families to be separated. Angelina Grimke proclaims, No longer to tear
husbands from their wives, and children from their parents; no longer to make
men, women, and children work without wages. This influenced people to stop
supporting slavery and fight to end slavery.
Not only was slavery support declining due to the recognized impact that
slavery had on family, it additionally declined because of American rights and
liberties. In the case of Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. Nathaniel Jennison in
1783, a decision upholding the abolition of slavery in Massachusetts, it was
decided that slavery went against God and Heaven. The Government said that if
Heaven treated everyone equal, it was only right for them to treat everyone equal.
The decision stated exactly, with which Heaven (without regard to color,
complexion, or shape of noses) has inspired all the human race with declaring
that all men are born free and equal- and that every subject is entitled to liberty.

Massachusetts court disliked the idea of slavery as shown through the

Massachusetts v. Nathaniel Jennison case. While the case outcome was impactful,
William Lloyd Garrisons Declaration of Sentiments of the American AntiSlavery Society was just as successful. Garrison publicized the idea of all men are
created equal. In the Declaration of Independence it says all men are created equal
and have equal rights and liberties. Since the United States is based off of the
Declaration of Independence, Garrison tells slavery is going against the foundation
of the US. to overthrow the most execrable system of slavery that has ever been
witnessed upon earth to secure to the colored population of the United States, all
the rights and privileges which belong to them as men, and as Americans, (part of
Garrisons Declaration of Sentiments of the American Anti-Slavery Society). The
fact that the foundation of the country is built on equality, people began to see the
wrongdoings of slavery.
Besides family hardships and equality, the way slaves were horribly treated
contributed to the opposition to slavery. When people became known of how
harshly slaves were treated by their masters, they wanted to do something about it.
Theodore Parker, a Boston minister and abolitionist, created a street poster in 1851.
This poster gave warning to colored people saying to watch out for police and
watchmen who could take you away and sell back into slavery. He says on the
poster to watch out for police or else you will get your liberties and rights taken
away. This began to show to everyone that slavery demanding and scary to those
who are trying to hide. The wickedness of slavery is portrayed in Frederick
Douglasss autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An
American Slave. In 1845, Frederick Douglass published a book about his past
afflictions with slavery. He tells of how he was treated by his master; how we was
hurt and crushed by them. Mr. Covey succeeded in breaking me. I was broken in
body, soul, and spirit. My natural elasticity was crushed, my intellect languished,
the disposition to read departed, the cheerful spark that lingered about my eye
died, (section from Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American
Slave.). This impacted the perspectives and ideas of Americans. At such a young
age, slavery caused a small boy to lose hope and happiness for his future. This led
to people fighting to end slavery so other children wont have to suffer too.