Remely Culas

Mr. Anderson
AP US History
October 21, 2014

After the revolutionary war, the opposition to slavery had separated the North and the
South in various ways and with the the opposition to slavery came underlying forces and events
that forever changed Americas view on our nations foundations.The North grew an opposition to
slavery as new political ideals rose during the eighteenth century throughout the nineteenth
century. The North Socially regarded slavery as morally wrong, because it tampered with the
principle of Freedom the country was built on. Religiously the North and the South were torn
due to the fact that the North began preaching about the abolition of slavery. The Norths
opposition to slavery grew as they acquired more land and published books that forever changed
perspectives of the common people.
Socially the opposition to slavery was mainly because people in the north thought it was
morally wrong and that everyone should have Freedom even slaves. In 1845 Narrative of the
Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave. was published. Frederick Douglass, in his
narrative, states that he Was broken in body, soul, and spirit ( Document G). It is important to
consider his statement, because this came from an American Slave who had to endure beatings
from his master, both verbally and physically. Eventually Frederick Douglas became free and
joined the Anti-Slavery Society and went touring to tell of his experiences as a slave and he was
also joined by Harriet Tubman. People became moved by his experience and some did not want
to believe him, but he has inspired many people with his story. Other Literary Incendiaries

included Uncle Toms Cabin, By Harriet Beecher Stowe. The book became popular in America
and also in parts of Europe, such as Great Britain. The book is precisely about the separation of
slave families. In the poster for Uncle Toms Cabin, it is stated that it was The Greatest Book
of The Age ( Document J) This is important, because not everyone believed it was the greatest
book, because those who were pro slavery disliked the novel and wrote books in response to the
novel. These novels helped common people of America realize that slavery is immoral and
should be abolished. People in the upper part of the south became more aware and the opposition
to slavery rose, because they realized the living conditions and the life of the slaves were not
good.
Religiously when it came to the opposition of slavery the north began preaching about
abolishing it. The south did not like that the north was teaching people that slavery was wrong in
the eyes of god, but not all of the south believed that slavery was good. Angelina Grimke, a
political activist and also an abolitionist from the south, wrote an Appeal to the christian women
of the South, in 1836. In her appeal she, Angelina Grimke, writes No longer to barter the
image of God in human shambles.. ( Document F ) It is important to consider this, because
this appeal was written by a woman abolitionist to southern christian women who basically said
that using god to say that slavery is good is the same as using his name in vain. The following
publication of the appeal, like any other abolitionist literature in Charleston, was burned. During
the decision to uphold the abolition of slavery in Massachusetts, it was stated that Heaven
(without regard to color, complexion, or shape of the noses)... ( Document B ) and this is
important to consider because the person who stated this was practically saying that even with
the differences in many places in Heaven there is no need for that and that everyone is
considered equal in the eyes of god and man should not suffer the oppression due to the color of

their skin. The north and south had different views, religiously, on slavery, but they both have
considered god as their base argument when it comes to regarding slavery as either immoral or
moral. The north has become more opposed to slavery religiously, but people of the south, many
were christian, have moved to the north to join the anti-slavery society and preached of
abolitioning it.
Politically around the 1770s new ideas rose which started the early emancipation in the
north. Due to Pennsylvanias large population of Quakers led to an early emancipation of the
state by state law ( Document A ) It is important to keep this in mind, because most of the north
started to pull away from slavery either by state constitution or by state law and was not favored
by the south. The greatest achievement of the government was the passing of the Northwest
Ordinance in 1787 which prohibited slavery in the northwest territories. Also during the 1770s a
political activist named Thomas Paine wrote an essay regarding African Slavery in America.
Paine states in his essay, As these people are not convicted of forfeiting freedom, they have still
a natural, perfect right to it; and the governments whenever they come should, in justice set them
free, and punish those who hold them in slavery. His statement reaches out for the government
to do something about slavery and those who kept the them as slaves. Thomas Paine was one of
the most influential Slavery abolitionist during the 1700s. As time goes on there becomes more
Abolitionist that try to help slaves. During the 1800s after the passing of the Fugitive Slave Law,
the north became angry and opposed to it. Theodore Parker, a Boston Minister, made a street
poster for slaves. In his poster he stated, For since the recent ORDER OF THE MAYOR &
ALDERMEN, they are empowered to act as kidnappers and slave catchers, this statement is
important to keep in mind because he believed that the mayor has forced the people of the north
to become slave catchers. Eventually they countered the Fugitive slave law with the Personal

liberty law. Politically the north was more opposed to slavery and many abolitionist had rose up
after the fugitive slave law to help the escaped slaves and the south was not fond of this.
The opposition to slavery was caused by many underlying forces and events, but many of
the events were caused by the actions of the abolitionist in the north. As slavery became more of
social issue, many of the southerners became aware of slaves situations in plantations and their
relationships with their masters, but politically the abolitionist became more interested with
abolishing slavery due to the ideals of Freedom and religiously they still had differences when
it came to linking slavery with god and morality. The opposition of slavery grew as more of the
abolitionist movements spread and helped with the emancipation of states.