Manumission Intelligencier facts for kids
| Type | Weekly newspaper, then monthly |
|---|---|
| Founder(s) | Elihu Embree |
| Founded | 1819 |
| Political alignment | Abolitionist |
| Language | English |
| Ceased publication | 1820 |
| City | Jonesborough, Tennessee |
| Country | United States |
The Manumission Intelligencier was a newspaper that fought against slavery. It was started in 1819 by Elihu Embree, who was a Quaker. Quakers are a religious group known for their peaceful beliefs. This newspaper was later called The Emancipator.
Contents
Starting a Newspaper for Freedom
In 1819, Elihu Embree got permission from the Manumission Society of Tennessee to start his newspaper. He was an active member of this group, which worked to free enslaved people. The newspaper was published every week in Jonesborough, Tennessee.
The first issue of the Manumission Intelligencier came out in March 1819. We don't know much about this early paper. Out of more than 50 issues, only a few copies still exist today.
The Emancipator: A New Name
In April 1820, the newspaper changed its name to The Emancipator. It also started coming out once a month instead of every week. Elihu Embree remained the editor.
The main goal of The Emancipator was to "advocate the abolition of slavery." This means it strongly supported ending slavery. The paper also shared important writings about this topic. It used very strong words to criticize slavery and slaveholders. It clearly showed how bad the system of slavery was.
A Popular Voice Against Slavery
The Emancipator became very popular, even though it was published in a slave state. A slave state was a state where slavery was legal. When Elihu Embree died, the paper had 2,000 paying subscribers. This was a huge number for a newspaper at that time.
Its popularity was likely because many people in East Tennessee were against slavery. However, the newspaper also faced a lot of opposition. Some people supported slavery, while others just didn't like anyone stirring up trouble about it.
The End of a Short Journey
The Emancipator only lasted for eight months. Elihu Embree died on December 4, 1820, when he was just 38 years old. He passed away from a sickness called "bilious fever."
After Embree's death, another Quaker named Benjamin Lundy bought the newspaper's materials. He then changed the publication's name to The Genius of Universal Emancipation.
Images for kids
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The first issue of The Emancipator
See also
