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Come-outer facts for kids

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"Come-outer" is a term from the 1830s. It describes someone who leaves an old group or organization. It also means someone who wants big changes in politics.

History

The term "come-outer" first appeared during a time called the Second Great Awakening. This was a religious revival in America. It was used for a small group of American abolitionists. These people disagreed with common religious beliefs. They left many churches because these churches were not doing enough to fight slavery.

A "come-outer" would not join a church that stayed neutral about slavery. They also would not vote or be part of a government that allowed slavery. The phrase came from a Bible verse, II Corinthians 6:17. It says: "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord." This meant to separate from anything considered "unclean" or wrong.

Garrisonian anti-institutionalism

William Lloyd Garrison was an important abolitionist from Boston. He started the New England Anti-Slavery Society and the American Anti-Slavery Society in the early 1830s. Garrison wanted slavery to end right away. He did not believe in a slow, step-by-step process through the political system.

In 1832, Garrison wrote an anti-slavery paper called Thoughts on African Colonization. It included the "come out from among them" Bible verse. It also had a quote from a Reverend Doctor Thomson. This quote said that ending sin slowly was wrong.

At the New England Anti-Slavery Convention in 1836, Garrison suggested something bold. He said only churches that fought slavery should be seen as "the true and real church of God." Many people thought this idea was too divisive. So, other methods were tried. But at the 1837 convention, a decision was made. It urged abolitionists to leave churches that did not respond to the call to fight slavery. They were told "to come out from among them and be separate."

Garrison's strong ideas caused a big split among anti-slavery groups. Many people left him. Only a small group of dedicated abolitionists stayed with him. This group, based in Boston, began to be called "come-outers."

Garrison's newspaper, The Liberator, helped spread his views. It often featured news about come-outers. Sometimes, articles from other newspapers were printed. In 1851, Garrison quoted an article titled "Come-outers in jail." This article suggested that some come-outers were acting strangely. Garrison believed these people were simply very passionate about their religious beliefs.

Other parts of the United States also had "come-outerism." These included Cape Cod, New Hampshire, and New York.

Abolition and church reform

Come-outers themselves had different ideas. Some, like Garrison, were against all institutions. Others believed that political systems and churches could be changed to fight slavery.

Non-Garrisonian come-outers left churches like Methodist, Baptist, and Presbyterian. They formed new churches with anti-slavery beliefs. The American Baptist Anti-Slavery Convention in 1840 showed this split among Baptists.

The American Baptist Free Mission Society was formed in 1843 in Boston. Seventeen Baptists, led by William Henry Brisbane, left their church. They created a group that was against racism and slavery. This group also had missions in Haiti, Burma, and Africa.

James G. Birney and Gerrit Smith were among those who left the Presbyterian church. The American Missionary Association was formed in 1846. It was a non-denominational group. Most members were Presbyterian and Congregational. They joined because their own churches would not commit to fighting slavery.

The Wesleyan Methodist Connection started in 1843. It grew to about 15,000 members. Many of these members were not originally Methodist. By 1850, the number of people in come-outer churches, plus those in groups like Free Will Baptist who had long been against slavery, reached 241,000 in America.

Tax resistance

Some come-outers refused to pay taxes. They did this because they did not want to support a government that allowed slavery. Henry David Thoreau and Amos Bronson Alcott both used tax resistance in this way. The utopian community Brook Farm was also seen as a "come-outer enterprise."

People

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Come-outer para niños

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