Abolitionism

Quick Facts: Who was Abolitionism?

Subject:

Abolitionism

Known for:

The global political movement dedicated to ending the practice of chattel slavery.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Abolitionism, or the abolitionist movement, is the political movement to end slavery and liberate enslaved individuals around the world. It gained momentum in the western world in the late 18th and 19th centuries. The first country to fully outlaw slavery was France in 1315, though it was later used in its colonies. The first country to abolish and punish slavery for indigenous people was Spain with the New Laws in 1542. Under the actions of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, chattel slavery was abolished across Japan since 1590, though other forms of forced labor were used during World War II.

Career & Major Achievements

The first and only country to self-liberate from slavery was a former French colony, Haiti, as a result of the Revolution of 1791–1804. The British abolitionist movement began in the late 18th century, and the 1772 Somersett case established that slavery did not exist in English law. In 1807, the slave trade was made illegal throughout the British Empire, though existing slaves in British colonies were not liberated until the Slavery Abolition Act 1833. In the United States, Pennsylvania and Vermont were the first states to abolish slavery, Vermont in 1777 and Pennsylvania in 1780 (Vermont did not join the Union until 1791). By 1804, the rest of the northern states had abolished slavery, but it remained legal in southern states.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

By 1808, the United States outlawed the importation of slaves and in 1865 outlawed slavery except as a punishment. In Eastern Europe, groups organized to abolish the enslavement of the Roma in Wallachia and Moldavia between 1843 and 1855, and to emancipate the serfs in Russia in 1861. The United States would pass the 13th Amendment in December 1865 after having just fought a bloody Civil War, ending slavery "except as a punishment for crime". In 1888, Brazil became the last country in the Americas to outlaw slavery. As the Empire of Japan annexed Asian countries, from the late 19th century onwards, archaic institutions including slavery were abolished in those countries.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1315: 1315 Milestone — The first country to fully outlaw slavery was France in 1315, though it was later used in its colonies.
2. 1542: 1542 Milestone — The first country to abolish and punish slavery for indigenous people was Spain with the New Laws in 1542.
3. 1590: 1590 Milestone — Under the actions of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, chattel slavery was abolished across Japan since 1590, though other forms of forced labor were used during World War II.
4. 1772: 1772 Milestone — The British abolitionist movement began in the late 18th century, and the 1772 Somersett case established that slavery did not exist in English law.
5. 1777: 1777 Milestone — In the United States, Pennsylvania and Vermont were the first states to abolish slavery, Vermont in 1777 and Pennsylvania in 1780 (Vermont did not join the Union until 1791).
6. 1791: 1791 Milestone — The first and only country to self-liberate from slavery was a former French colony, Haiti, as a result of the Revolution of 1791–1804.
7. 1804: 1804 Milestone — By 1804, the rest of the northern states had abolished slavery, but it remained legal in southern states.
8. 1807: 1807 Milestone — In 1807, the slave trade was made illegal throughout the British Empire, though existing slaves in British colonies were not liberated until the Slavery Abolition Act 1833.
9. 1808: 1808 Milestone — By 1808, the United States outlawed the importation of slaves and in 1865 outlawed slavery except as a punishment.
10. 1843: 1843 Milestone — In Eastern Europe, groups organized to abolish the enslavement of the Roma in Wallachia and Moldavia between 1843 and 1855, and to emancipate the serfs in Russia in 1861.
11. 1865: 1865 Milestone — The United States would pass the 13th Amendment in December 1865 after having just fought a bloody Civil War, ending slavery "except as a punishment for crime".
12. 1888: 1888 Milestone — In 1888, Brazil became the last country in the Americas to outlaw slavery.

Notable Quotes by Abolitionism

“France signifies freedom”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Abolitionism

True or False: “The first country to fully outlaw slavery was Haiti, following its revolution.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While Haiti self-liberated from slavery in 1804, France was the first nation mentioned to issue a decree proclaiming freedom in 1315.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Giovanni Pisano — Historical peer (Died in 1315) (1315): Master Italian sculptor blending French Gothic and Roman antiquity.
• 2nd Dalai Lama — Historical peer (Died in 1542) (1542): Second Dalai Lama, a pivotal spiritual leader of Tibet from the late 15th to early 16th centuries.
• Azai Sukemasa — Historical peer (Died in 1542) (1542): Sengoku period daimyō who led the Azai clan to prominence.
• Ambroise Paré — Historical peer (Died in 1590) (1590): Father of modern surgery, pioneer in wound treatment and battlefield medicine.
• Bernardino de Sahagún — Historical peer (Died in 1590) (1590): Pioneering ethnographer and Franciscan friar documenting Aztec culture in colonial Mexico.
• Carl Czerny — Historical peer (Born in 1791) (1791): Austrian composer and pianist, renowned for his pedagogical works and connection to Beethoven and Liszt.
• Charles Babbage — Historical peer (Born in 1791) (1791): Pioneering polymath credited with originating the concept of the digital programmable computer.
• 8th Dalai Lama — Historical peer (Died in 1804) (1804): Spiritual leader of Tibet, recognized as the 8th Dalai Lama.
• Aleksey Khomyakov — Historical peer (Born in 1804) (1804): Founding theoretician of the Slavophile movement in Russian philosophy.
• Ahmad Shah Durrani — Historical peer (Died in 1772) (1772): Founder of the Durrani Empire and modern Afghanistan's first ruler.

Frequently Asked Questions about Abolitionism