Ask a Historian

What do you want to know about abolitionism? Many of the leading historians of the abolitionist movement are at your fingertips. Ask a question, and we’ll have an answer for you as quick as we can!

10 thoughts on “Ask a Historian

  1. I am trying to write an extended essay on the topic of abolition. I am hoping to find two opposing historian opinions about the outcome of abolition in America or the reason for the delay in abolition or the final push. If you could recommend some important historians with strong opinions that would be greatly appreciated.

  2. Do you know of any primary sources that would be helpful in understanding the Abolitionism movement before and during the civil war?

  3. There is considerable historical debate over where and when our modern understanding of ‘race’ emerged. I’ve been conducting research – looking at the work of Dorothy Roberts, WEB Du Bois, Eric Williams, Frederick Douglass, Theodore Allen, and many others – which has led me to believe that race was invented as a system of classification and control in 18th century America. The African slave trade, especially, is fundamental to understanding how the concept of race was invented and exploited. Do you agree with this notion; that ‘race’ came into existence in 18th century America? And if so, how then did race emerge as a global concept, given that – to my understanding – America did not occupy it’s current position of influence until the mid-20th century?

  4. I was wondering, what happened to the abolitionist movement in the US after emancipation? What happened to all those who fought against slavery after slavery was outlawed? Did they think that their mission was complete, did they continue with an anti-racism movement? I have not read or heard anything about attitudes, movements, laws, regarding these people after the fact. What did they think about the plight of former slaves after emancipation when they were re-victimized in other ways?

  5. abolition vs equality how did it lead to the American civil war? were there any fears of the impact of slaves being free in the north?

  6. Hello my name is salvador and i am currently writing a historic paper between 1774-1787 since it is the birth of the Pensilvania abolition society and the date of the society constitution, i want to prove that the Quakers and also others like Benjamin Franklin had an impact in gradual abolition of slavery. what are you thoughts??

  7. My name is Geisa Conceicao Cipriani, I’m an Italian- Brazilian Bachelor student and I study in “Universitàdegli Studi di Firenze” (Florence,Italy).I’m getting a degree in Political Science- International studies. Here in Italy, we have to write a final paper about a subject very important and meaningfull to us, so I,chose Harriet Tubman and the underground railroad.
    I am writing to you regarding your website, full of very interest information.
    I would like my paper to be about her biography(I already have them) but certainly also about the opinions and the help (or the troubles) that Southern and Northen people gave her and the underground railroad, and also the USA government.

    I would appreciate it if you could send us more detailed information about specific book and laws of Congress about Her and the Underground and also if you could help me find northerner’s and southerner’s documents about their opinion on the underground railroad and what they may have done to fight it.

    Thanking you in advance and looking forward to hearing from you soon,
    Yours sincerely,

    Geisa Conceicao Cipriani

  8. Hello,
    I am a student from Yokohama International School and am writing an essay on the impact Benjamin Franklin had on the Pennsylvania Abolition Society. I would really appreciate it if you have any details about what sort of specific work Benjamin Franklin had done to help this society and if what he did was actually helpful. I want to make it as unbias as possible with slave narratives and so anything like that would also be helpful. I would also like to check if Anthony Benezet was the one who founded the society.

    Thank you very much.

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