What Is the Abolitionist Movement?
An abolitionist generally refers to a person in the 19th century who desired an immediate end to slavery. The abolitionist movement refers to a period where many organized efforts worked to achieve this goal. Although the abolitionist movement is commonly attributed to the Northern states of the United States, it is important to note that there were abolitionists and abolition activities in the South. There were also many Northerners who were against the movement. Attempting to place specific starting and ending dates on the abolitionist movement has resulted in a great deal of debate. The dates which some want to designate start only after significant abolitionist efforts were under way. In other instances, people declare that the movement had ended despite significant events that occurred after those dates. It is best, therefore, to simplify the matter by saying that the abolitionist movement occurred during the 19th century.
