The Antebellum Era: The Rise of Abolitionism (Essay Sample)

The Antebellum Era: The Rise of Abolitionism Name Course Number Tutor Date The antebellum period in American history embodies the time before and after the civil war that occurred in 1812. However, some historians protract this period to include the years when the constitution was adopted. The rise of abolitionism was the core element of the antebellum era, which polarized the nation into abolitionists and protagonists of forced labor. As well, the country experienced an economic shift due to the prevalence of industrial revolution. A look at the abolitionist activities by David Walker, Maria Stewart, and Frederick Douglass provide insight into the rise of black political and social thoughts, which insisted the immediate emancipation of slaves and the eradication of racial segregation. David Walker, a distinguished African-American abolitionist, was an active anti-slavery activist. His audience entailed the entire people of America including the blacks, whites, Christians, and slaves. The appeals and works of Walker show that he was angry at the perpetrators of slavery and the whites who considered dark skin color as a sign of inferiority.[Claudine Ferrell L. The Abolitionist Movement. (Westport, Conn. [u.a.]: Greenwood Press), 2006. 132.] He explored the deplorable working conditions of the Israelites slaves in Egypt, the Helots in Sparta, and Roman laborers. In his argument, he compared their slavery to a verse in the Bible, which contains a heap of insupportable insults to Israelites by the Egyptians. The core problem of the ideas proposed by Walker concerns their radical nature. They were thoroughly based on social and political reforms, which sometimes triggered resistance from other abolitionists and the whites. In comparison to Frederick's political thought, David Walker was not pleased with the slavery.[Ferrell, 146.] Frederick Douglass was an abolitionist, orator, writer, statesman, and a social reformer. All these personalities made him a distinguished activist in the antebellum era. He wrote several autobiographies that detailed his personal experiences as a forced laborer. His audience encompassed the blacks, Native Americans, females, and immigrants. Notably, Walker's approach to fighting inequality, oppression, and ethnic segregation employed a responsive approach. In a way, he uses his autobiographies to answer the questions advanced by readers concerning his slavery experiences and the essence of personal liberty.[Diane, L. Barnes. Frederick Douglass: Reformer and Statesman. (New York: Taylor & Francis Group), 2013. 228.] As for Fredrick Douglass, he united and honored the statement of heroism, good deeds, and principles for the contention of the rise of black people at one time. Moreover, Douglass spoke of political freedom, natural justice, and independence declaration that were given to the blacks. However, he was dissatisfied with the freedom advanced to the blacks since he believed it was their right. Just like Walker, Douglass condemned America’s social and political landscape, which provided a platform for slavery and oppression to thrive. However, he was not angry but offered his general response to various issues affecting the African Americans.[Barnes, 243.] [Barnes, 280.] Maria Stewart was among the most noted American woman speakers during the period of abolition. Her main audience included black women. The main arguments of Stewart revolved around women’s rights, occupational development, eradication of s...