American Anti-Slavery Society post
The American Anti-Slavery Society (AASS) was a main activist arm for the immediate abolition of slavery. It was founded in 1833 under the leadership of William Lloyd Garrison. The society sponsored meetings, adopted resolutions, signed anti-slavery petitions that were sent to Congress. They also published in large quantities journals and enlisted subscriptions and printed and distributed propaganda with agents and lectures to carry the message of anti-slavery to audiences in the North.
Most of the participants were from religious groups and philanthropic backgrounds as well as some members of free black communities. Some member included: Theodore Dwight Weld and Arthur and Lewis Tappan and Lawyer Wendell. These individuals were committed to the moral and political principal that slavery was a sin and a violation of fundamental human rights. There were also six black members serving on the first Board of Managers.
The meetings were most effective when they had the testimonies of former slaves like Frederick Douglass and William Wells Brown.
These meetings did not come without opposition from the public that were in favor of slavery. They would invade meetings, attack speakers and burn presses. There was opposition from businessmen in the North because they relied on the imports from the slave states.
In 1839, the National organization split over differences. Garrison and his followers were more radical and denounced the U.S. Constitution as supportive of slavery. They insisted on sharing with women, like Angelina and Sarah Grimke organizational responsibilities. This helped with the early advocacy of Women's rights. The Tappan Brothers were less radical and formed the Foreign Anti-Slavery Society which advocated moral suasion and political action and led to the beginning of the Liberty Party (an early advocate of the abolitionist which broke away from the AASS to advocate the view that the constitution was an anti-slavery document) in 1840.
By 1840 the society had members totaling around 200,000. With the division in leadership most of the activities were carried out by state and local societies.
The society played a pivotal role in the larger abolitionist movement, which sought to end the institution of slavery and promote civil rights and equality for all individuals. They also played a crucial role in promoting the Underground Railroad. This helped house and find safe routes of enslaved individuals escape to the North and Canada. The American Anti-Slavery Society was formally dissolved by 1870, after the Civil War and Emancipation.
References:
www.brittanica.com
www.americanabolitionists.com
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