EOTO: American Anti-Slavery Society

 In December of 1833, in Philidelphia, Pennsylvania, prominent white abolitionists such as William Llyod Garrison and Arthur Lewis Tappan as well as blacks from Pennsylvania, including James Forten and Robert Purvis formed the American Anti-slavery Society. The society was based on the model of London’s Anti-Slavery Society, which successfully abolished slavery in the British colonies.

This society was the first national organization of its kind, a primary activist organization, through its state and local auxiliaries, for the immediate abolition of slavery in the United States. 

Beginning with 60 members, the Anti-Slavery Society agreed to a simple “constitution, prefaced by a brief but eloquent “manifesto” that quoted both the Biblical commandment to love one’s neighbor as oneself and the central idea of the Declaration of Independence, that “all men are created equal.” Although they quoted the bible, the society denounced not only slavery but also the Constitution of the United States for tolerating evil. 

The societies sponsored meetings, adopted resolutions, signed anti-slavery petitions to be sent to Congress, printed and distributed vast quantities of information about slavery in journals, books, and other formats, and even sent out agents and lecturers to carry the anti-slavery message to Northern audiences.

Although the movement had a lot of members and followers there were a large amount of people who were against equal rights for African Americans, the abolishment of slavery, and essentially the society as a whole. The society encountered a significant amount of violence, especially in the South where pro-slavery beliefs are powerful and publically opinionated. They were seen as radicals by many in the South and were attacked by white mobs. 

Another factor that helped this organization stand out amongst others is the fact that they were one of the first organizations to effectively use print media to spread its message to the public. The society printed pamphlets, newsletters, and newspapers to reach its audience.

By 1850, the society had gained 2000 local chapters and 250,000 new members! 

Although the society had expanded it had also begun to split into separate organizations due to various disagreements. These disagreements included how to forcefully press for nationwide abolition, whether to press for it within the existing political and constitutional system, whether to establish religious denominations offered the best medium for spreading the message, and the biggest problem of all, whether they should or should not allow women to have and hold active roles within the anti-slavery movement. 

Regardless of the society splitting the disagreements they once had over their approach to the movement as a society, did not halt the growth of the abolition movement and the society as a whole. 

In 1870, after the passage of the Fifteenth Amendment granting black men the right to vote, the ending of slavery, and the Civil War the American Anti-Slavery Society was dissolved. The society’s work helped lay down the foundation for future civil rights movements. Many members of the society became involved in the civil rights movement and the woman suffrage movement after the dissolving of the American Anti-Slavery Society.