William Lloyd Garrison

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William Lloyd Garrison

William Lloyd Garrison was born in Massachusetts on December 10, 1805. He was a tireless reformer who works for women's right to vote, civil rights, and prohibition, but he was known for his "fierce opposition to slavery." Through "The Liberator", an anti-slavery newspaper, he led the moral movement to abolish slavery in the United States. He also established the New England Anti-Slavery Society in 1832, and the American Anti-Slavery Society in 1833.[1]

History

Garrison was born on December 10, 1805, in Newburyport, Massachusetts. When Garrison was only three years old, his father abandoned him and the family. Garrison’s mother, a devout Baptist, Frances Maria, worked hard to raise Garrison and his siblings into poverty. As a child, Garrison lived with a Baptist deacon for a period of time and received basic education there. IIn 1814, he reunited with his mother and started to work as a shoemaker, but it turns out that this job requires a lot of physical strength for the little boy.

In 1818, when Garrison was 13 years old, he was appointed writer and editor apprentice for seven years under Ephraim W. Allen, editor of the Newburyport Herald. During this apprenticeship period that Garrison found his true calling. Through various newspaper jobs, he acquired the skills to run his own newspaper. In 1826, 20 years-old-Garrison borrowed money from his former employer and purchased The Newburyport Essex Courant. The Garrison renamed the newspaper Newburyport Free Press and used it as a political instrument to express the sentiments of the old Federal Party. Unfortunately, within six months, the newspaper went bankrupt because subscribers raised objections to its firm federal system.

In 1828, he moved to Boston and worked at the National Philanthropist. While working for the National Philanthropist, he met Benjamin Lundy, who worked as the anti-slavery editor of the Genius of Emancipation. Lundy's abolition of the cause of death attracted Garrison's attention. When Lundy offered Garrison an editorial position in the Genius of Universal Emancipation, Garrison eagerly accepted it. This work marked the beginning of Garrison's abolitionist movement.[2]

At the age of 25, Garrison joined the abolitionist movement. He joined the American Colonization Society, which believed that free blacks should immigrate to the territories on the west coast of Africa. At first glance, society seems to promote the freedom and happiness of blacks. There must be some members who encourage slaves to practice enslavement (giving freedom). However, the facts have proved that the number of members who advocated abstention is very small. Most members do not want to release slaves. Their goal is to reduce the number of free blacks in the country, thereby helping to maintain slavery.[3]

Contribution

The Liberator Newspaper Heading

The Liberator (1831–1865)

Soon after he broke away from the American Colonization Society in 1830 he started his own abolitionist newspaper together with his friend Isaac Knapp, calling it The Liberator with a motto "Our country is the world—our countrymen are mankind." The Liberator was responsible for initially building Garrison’s reputation as an abolitionist.[2]

In the first issue of The Liberator, dated January 1, 1831, he stated his views on slavery vehemently: “I do not wish to think, or speak, or write, with moderation.… I am in earnest—I will not equivocate—I will not excuse—I will not retreat a single inch—AND I WILL BE HEARD.” and yes, he was heard. From the very first issue in 1831 to the last issue after the Civil War in 1865, for more than three decades Garrison spoke out eloquently and passionately against slavery and for the rights of America's black inhabitants.[4][3]

New England Anti-Slavery Society (1831–1837)

In addition to publishing The Liberator, Garrison spearheaded a new movement organization to demand the complete abolition of slavery in the United States.

In 1832, Garrison formed New England Anti-Slavery Society. The first meeting was on January 1, 1832(some sources list the date as January 1, 1831), in Belknap Street church hall (also known as African Meeting House). The New England Anti-Slavery Society based in Boston, Massachusetts, supported the immediate abolition of slavery and treats slavery as immoral. It particularly opposed the American Colonization Society.

The Society sponsored lecturers or people who traveled throughout New England, lectured in local churches or auditoriums, and sold abolitionists or The Liberator. They also encouraged the establishment of local anti-slavery associations as much as possible. By 1833, there were 47 local associations in the ten northern states, of which 33 were in New England.

In January 1833, Thomas Dalton, chairman of the Massachusetts General Colored Association, successfully petitioned to merge with the New England Anti-Slavery Society and other black anti-slavery societies that had already existed in Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Connecticut, and New Jersey. This society reorganized in 1835 as the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society with the same purpose.[5]

American Anti-Slavery Society (1833–1870)

American Anti-Slavery Society founded by William Lloyd Garrison and Arthur Tappan in 1833. Frederick Douglass, an escaped slave, was a key leader of this society who often spoke at its meetings. This society had the same purpose as New England Anti-Slavery Society.[6]

In 1840, the number of supporters of the society was around 2,000, with total memberships ranging from 150,000 to 200,000. The societies sponsored meetings, adopted resolutions, signed antislavery petitions to be sent to Congress, published journals and enlisted subscriptions, printed and distributed propaganda in vast quantities, and sent out lecturers to carry the antislavery message to Northern audiences.

The participants of the society mainly come from religious circles and charitable backgrounds, as well as the free black community, of which six blacks served as members of the first management committee. The society’s public meetings most effectively reflect the eloquent testimony of former slaves such as Frederick Douglass or William Wells Brown. The society’s antislavery activities frequently met with violent public opposition, with mobs invading meetings, attacking speakers, and burning presses.

The American Anti-Slavery Society was formally dissolved in 1870, after the Civil War and Emancipation.[7]

References

  1. William Lloyd Garrison. National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  2. 2.0 2.1 William Lloyd Garrison Biography (1805–1879). Biography November 21 2014 (Original), January 13 2021 (Updated). Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  3. 3.0 3.1 William Lloyd Garrison 1805 - 1879. Public Broadcasting Service. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  4. Thomas, John L.William Lloyd Garrison. Encyclopædia Britannica December 23, 2020. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  5. Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society. Wikipedia. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  6. American Anti-Slavery Society. Wikipedia. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  7. Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. American Anti-Slavery Society. Encyclopædia Britannica July 28, 2016. Retrieved January 30, 2021.