From our country’s birth, slavery was a point of contention. Founding Fathers such as John Adams pointed out the contradiction of holding individuals in bondage in a society claiming “all men are created equal and endowed with the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”  But despite the divisiveness of the issue, a full-scale abolitionist movement did not get underway until the 1830s. 

When it did, African Americans were at the forefront. However, except for Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman, their contributions are not widely known today. From debates over colonization to moral persuasion and outright violence, these voices of abolition helped shape and maintain the movement. Kelly Hancock, director of educational programs at the National Civil War Museum, examines several of the lesser-known key activists and their persistent efforts to bring about the end of slavery and achieve equality under the law.

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