What is radical abolition?

Radical abolition refers to the movement to end slavery in the United States during the 19th century. It was led by individuals who believed that slavery was a fundamental violation of human rights and that it needed to be eradicated immediately and completely, without compromise or gradualism.

Radical abolitionists believed that slavery was a moral evil that corrupted both slaves and slave owners, and that the only solution was immediate and complete abolition. They rejected the idea of compensation or gradual emancipation, arguing that slaves should be freed without any conditions or qualifications.

Prominent radical abolitionist figures include William Lloyd Garrison, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, and John Brown. They used a variety of tactics, including speeches, publications, acts of civil disobedience, and armed resistance, to call attention to the injustice of slavery and advance the cause of abolition.

The radical abolition movement played a significant role in the eventual passage of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which abolished slavery and involuntary servitude throughout the United States. This achievement marked a monumental victory in the struggle for civil rights and remains an essential part of American history.