Massachusetts Abolition Society facts for kids
The Massachusetts Abolition Society was a group formed a long time ago, in 1839, to fight against slavery. This group was different from other anti-slavery organizations at the time. It was started by people who didn't agree with some of the ideas of another famous leader named William Lloyd Garrison and his group, the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society.
The main disagreements were about whether women should have equal rights in the anti-slavery movement and if the government should be involved in ending slavery. Garrison's group was more radical, meaning they had very strong and new ideas for their time. The Massachusetts Abolition Society, sometimes called the "New Organization," wanted to fight slavery in a way they thought was more traditional.
How the Society Began
The Massachusetts Abolition Society was officially formed on May 27, 1839. A meeting was held to create this new group. Key people who helped organize it were D. S. King, Joseph Warren Alden, and Charles Turner Torrey.
Many other important people joined as founding members. Some of these included Amos A. Phelps, Elizur Wright, Jr., Charles Tappan, and Orange Scott. These individuals believed in ending slavery but wanted to do it in their own way.
Why a New Group Was Formed
The story of how this society started shows some of the disagreements among people fighting against slavery. Joseph Tracy, who wrote about the group's beginnings, explained what happened.
At a big anti-slavery meeting, a suggestion was made to invite all persons who supported their goals to join. However, a Reverend named A. A. Phelps suggested inviting only gentlemen. This idea was quickly voted down, and the original idea to include all people passed.
Because of this disagreement, Mr. Phelps and about 150 other people decided to leave that meeting. They then formed the new Massachusetts Abolition Society. This shows that even though everyone wanted to end slavery, they had different ideas about how to achieve it and who should be involved.
