Monday, September 24, 2012

Garrison--Pioneer or Safer Option?

This piece says quite a bit about Garrison's background as an original gradualist and colonizer, and his shift towards preaching for immediate abolition.  Why do you think Garrison was the "founder" of the American abolition movement if there were others before him (especially Quakers) who did not receive much of a spotlight?  What was it about Garrison's personality, background, and evening timing that put him into the limelight for the abolition movement?

12 comments:

  1. I believe Garrison was a very brave and important individual in this time period. He totally believed against the norm and with help and support, we was able to guide the country to freedom. I believe is is known as the "founder" of the American abolitionist movement because he actively pursued it. Others believed in what he did but nobody got off their asses and did anything about it (pardon my french). He came from Massachusetts, but he had traveled to the south to see first hand how slaves were kept and treated. He used his outstanding writing skills to persuade people to believe how he believed. I think William Lloyd Garrison is a pioneer and a hero.

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  2. "I WILL BE HEARD"
    Garrison was a fiery speaker who promised his readers that his voice will be heard. He used inflammatory language, because he thought that that was the type of language necessary to tackle such an important issue. Quakers were a lot less confrontational for many years because weak voices won't be heard when money and people's livelihoods are involved. One author even said that his voice would not be heard if it was not for Garrison.

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  3. I agree with Mitchell and Abdoulaye; Garrison was fearless and prepared for any sacrifice for his actions, which made him the legitimate founder of the American abolitionist movement. When he announced that he intended to name his anti-slavery newspaper "The Liberator", Sewall suggested downgrading to a less provoking name and suggested "The Safety Lamp", but Garrison stood his ground. "He meant to agitate. He meant to call hard names. He meant to make it impossible for any man to confess without shame that he was the owner of slaves."

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  4. I think that Garrison is seen as the founder of the Abolitionist movement in America because he was willing to call out people who should help because the the things they supposedly stand for. This can be seen when Garrison asks reverend Beecher for help on promoting the release of all slaves. He said "Then, replied the young zealot, you had better let them all burn than to neglect your duty to the slave." This quote just shows how brave and outgoing Garrison is. He isn't afraid to let people know that they suck and should step up to the plate and help free these oppressed peoples.

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  5. 9/24
    I believe that Garrison was undoubtably the most important American Abolitionist. He refused to let slavery progressed. He used his substantial writing techniques to make sure his standpoint was heard. Like Emma said, "he meant to agitate, he meant to call hard names, he meant to make it impossible for any man to confess without shame that he was the owner of slaves." He purposefully wrote all of these things so the slave owners would feel guilty and ashamed.

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  6. I think that it is Garrison's passionate beliefs in the abolitionist movement that gave him the spotlight during these times. I believe his tactic of "moral pressure" really succeeded. Instead of violent uprising that could only do short term good, Garrison took hold of his opportunity to advocate abolition through his speech. His words truly seemed captivating and he was determined to be heard. It is evident that he was persuading, many people including Harriet Beecher Stowe admitted of his "remarkable tact at conversation". His strength in words not only brought awareness, but I think the most important part is that it persuaded others to convert and support abolition movements as well.

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  7. I think the main reason that Garrison stayed in the mind of all people as THE abolitionist was his way of forcing an „immediate emancipation“ in such a provocative way. He wanted the slaves to be free, no matter the costs and consequences. Once he even burned a copy of the American constitution, claiming it an evil document of slavery. Another reason was probably the famous newspaper he founded, the „Liberator“, that published for more than 30 years a lot of remarkable articles from abolitionists from all America. And, of course that he founded the New England anti Slavery Society.

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  8. I agree with Mikey in That Garrison was such an important person in the founding of the abolitionist movement. He also made people aware of his beliefs. He was not scared to go against what everyone else was thinking, and fight for what he thought was right. He also made other people feel like they should do something by placing guilt on them. For example, if someone owned slaves, Garrison would make them feel terrible for it.

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  9. I do think that Garrison was one the the most important abolitionist
    in the History of the United States. There are two reason for this, first off all, he was mad and with passion. Second, he was mad enough to get something done and he did it. Garrison was the founder
    of the ASS, and the person in front of the speaker of "the liberator". I like the way he speak with such a strong tone with extraordinary confidence. Brave people with clear, inflammatory voice, and confidence would always "Be heard".

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  10. I believe a major part of why he became so popular was due to how he was such an exemplar of a public speaker. We have seen several times throughout history how a single man, and one who could deliver speeches that moved emotion and mountains so to speak could change a nation (Martin Luther King Jr.). I believe that Garrison was a miniature King Jr. in a figurative sense. He gathered people to think out side the box and stand face-to-face with the moral injustices of their society that no people wants to admit. and for that i admire him, all who came before him and those yet unborn.

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  11. Garrison's most outstanding qualities were his bravery and strong opinions in voicing what he believes. He greatly stood out from the Quakers because they are known to be very docile people who don't possess strong opinions, and are very plain people. Garrison was the opposite, and used his newspaper, "The Liberator" to rally people around his way of thinking. He used rhetoric and "moral pressure" to make sure that people knew his name and about the abolitionist movement. He is known as the founder of the Abolitionist movement because of his outstanding qualities rather than where he fit in the timeline of the founding of the Abolitionist movement.

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  12. I think Garrison was the 'founder' of the American abolitionist movement because he was so passionate about his cause. The Quakers didn't receive as much attention because they were more isolated than Garrison.mi think that Garrison was more successful because of the time period, he was much closer to the Civil War.

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