[detail] Soldier and Two Women. Isaac and Lenora Lane Collection 
About this image
The African-American Experience in Ohio, 1850-1920, contains a number of primary sources reflecting the diversity and complexity of African-American culture from the eve of the Civil War through the early twentieth century. The numerous manuscripts, hundreds of photographs, and thousands of newspaper articles contained in this collection touch on subjects relating to abolitionist tracts, efforts in the military and the Underground Railroad, Reconstruction policies, labor movements, and other matters that affected the daily lives of the African-American community.
Abolitionists
This collection contains several items that reflect both the principles and practices of nineteenth-century abolitionists. The Ripley Anti Slavery Society in Ripley, Ohio was one of many organizations dedicated to "the entire abolition of Slavery in the United States." The Ripley Anti Slavery Society’s Constitution details the group’s plan "to convince their fellow citicens that slaveholding is a henious sin in the sight of God," (page 1).
Materials in this collection also reflect the resistance that abolitionists such as those of the Ripley Society faced in trying to get their point across. For example, a search on abolitionist results in pieces such as the February, 1844 Palladium Of Liberty article, "Abolitionist But," which challenges some of the reservations people had about the cause:
Constitution of Ripley Anti
Slavery Society, from Ripley
Anti Slavery Society Minute
Book, Created 1848-1858.
I would be an abolitionist but I think I can do more for the people of color as I am . . . So it is with all their buts, they are opposed to slavery in any sense of the word; still they are not willing to act with a party that has for its object the abolition of slavery . . . Near sixty years has elapsed since the spirit of liberty has been promulgated among this people, still they are butting at the walls of slavery, and continue to but deceitfully until the two hundred and fifty thousand slave holders have managed to get the government into their own hands.
- Who is the target audience of this article?
- How does the piece attempt to support its case with statistics?
- Is this piece persuasive? Why?
In addition to trying to change citizens’ minds, abolitionists sought to influence legislatures. The State Convention of Colored Men meeting in Columbus, Ohio on January 16-18, 1856 resulted in a pamphlet that includes an address to the state legislature requesting that the word, "white," be struck from the state constitution in all references to suffrage:
We ask you to ponder the danger of circumscribing the great doctrines of human equality . . . to the narrow bounds of races or nations. All men are by nature equal, and have inalienable rights, or none have. We beg you to reflect how insecure your own and the liberties of your posterity would be by the admission of such a rule of construing the rights of men. . . .Page 4[Transcription]
Proceedings, Held in the City of Columbus, January 16-18, 1856
- What are the implications of a state constitution that refers only to "white men"?
- How does it treat notions of equal rights?
- Does the convention make a convincing argument?
- What points appeal to the emotions of members of the Ohio legislature? What points appeal to their reason?
- How do the agendas of these two abolitionist groups, The Ripley Anti Slavery Society and The State Convention of Colored Men, differ?
- Why did abolitionists appeal for African Americans' right to vote?
- Is it more effective to appeal directly to the legislature that can make such an amendment or to the citizens who appoint the legislature?
Last Updated: 06/23/2009