Liberty and Responsibility in the American Anti-slavery Movement

History

Liberty and Responsibility in the American Anti-slavery Movement

ABSTRACT

This conference explored the role that the ideas of liberty and responsibility played in the elaboration and articulation of the American antislavery movement. In particular, the conference addressed several broad questions: To what extent was the American antislavery movement a product of notions of liberty, freedom, and responsibility, or were motivations more practical, pragmatic, and political? Did abolitionists and antislavery thinkers draw on a consistent and agreed-upon body of knowledge to articulate ideas of liberty and freedom? Was the antislavery movement ever in danger of undermining liberty in its push for emancipation?

READING LIST

Conference Readings

Beecher, Catharine E. An Essay on Slavery and Abolition with Reference to the Duty of American Females. Philadelphia: Henry Perkins, 1837.

Birney, James G., “A Letter of the Political Obligations of Abolitionists” In Antislavery Political Writings, 1833-1860, edited by C. Bradley Thompson, 75-97. London: M. E. Sharpe, 2004.

Bowditch, William I., “Slavery and the Constitution” In Antislavery Political Writings, 1833-1860, edited by C. Bradley Thompson, 133-143. London: M. E. Sharpe, 2004.

Buffum, Arnold, “Lecture showing the necessity for a Liberty Party” In Antislavery Political Writings, 1833-1860, edited by C. Bradley Thompson, 107-113. London: M. E. Sharpe, 2004.

Channing, William E., “Selections from Slavery” In Antislavery Political Writings, 1833-1860, edited by C. Bradley Thompson, 31-38. London: M. E. Sharpe, 2004.

Child, Lydia Maria, “The Patriarchal Institution.” in Antislavery Political Writings, 1833-1860, edited by C. Bradley Thompson, 3-23. London: M. E. Sharpe, 2004.

Child, Lydia Maria, “Talk about Political Party.” in Antislavery Political Writings, 1833-1860, edited by C. Bradley Thompson, 98-103. London: M. E. Sharpe, 2004.

Douglass, Frederick, “Lecture on Slavery, No. 1.” in Antislavery Political Writings, 1833-1860, edited by C. Bradley Thompson, 24-30. London: M. E. Sharpe, 2004.

Douglass, Frederick, “The Constitution of the United States.” in Antislavery Political Writings, 1833-1860, edited by C. Bradley Thompson, 144-156. London: M. E. Sharpe, 2004.

Douglass, Frederick, “What is my duty as an Anti-Slavery Voter?.” in Antislavery Political Writings, 1833-1860, edited by C. Bradley Thompson, 202-206. London: M. E. Sharpe, 2004.

Garnet, Henry Highland, “Address to the Slaves of the United States of America” In Antislavery Political Writings, 1833-1860, edited by C. Bradley Thompson, 223-229. London: M. E. Sharpe, 2004.

Garrison, William Lloyd, “No Compromise with Slavery” In Antislavery Political Writings, 1833-1860, edited by C. Bradley Thompson, 230-245. London: M. E. Sharpe, 2004.

Garrison, William Lloyd (American Anti-Slavery Society), “Declaration of Sentiments.” in Antislavery Political Writings, 1833-1860, edited by C. Bradley Thompson, 41-45. London: M. E. Sharpe, 2004.

Giddings, Joshua R., “Moral Responsibility of Statesmen.” in Antislavery Political Writings, 1833-1860, edited by C. Bradley Thompson, 187-201. London: M. E. Sharpe, 2004.

Goodell, William, “Address of the Macedon Convention” In Antislavery Political Writings, 1833-1860, edited by C. Bradley Thompson, 114-130. London: M. E. Sharpe, 2004.

Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society, “An Address to the Abolitionists of Massachusetts” In Antislavery Political Writings, 1833-1860, edited by C. Bradley Thompson, 63-74. London: M. E. Sharpe, 2004.

Spooner, Lysander, “A Plan for the Abolition of Slavery” In Antislavery Political Writings, 1833-1860, edited by C. Bradley Thompson, 261-263. London: M. E. Sharpe, 2004.

Stowe, Harriet Beecher, “The Two Alters; Or, Two Pictures in One” In Antislavery Political Writings, 1833-1860, edited by C. Bradley Thompson, 159-169. London: M. E. Sharpe, 2004.

Sumner, Charles, “Speech on Our Present Anti-Slavery Duties” In Antislavery Political Writings, 1833-1860, edited by C. Bradley Thompson, 170-184. London: M. E. Sharpe, 2004.

Wright, Henry C., “No Rights, No Duties: Or, Slaveholders, as such, have no Rights; Slaves, as such, owe no Duties” In Antislavery Political Writings, 1833-1860, edited by C. Bradley Thompson, 246-260. London: M. E. Sharpe, 2004.