The Free South facts for kids
The Free South was a special newspaper printed in Kentucky from 1858 to 1866. It was an abolitionist newspaper, which means it spoke out against slavery and wanted to end it. The newspaper was started by a brave man named William Shreve Bailey.
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Who Was William Shreve Bailey?
William Shreve Bailey was born in Centerville, Ohio. He later moved to Newport, Kentucky, to find work. He was skilled as a cotton machinist and engine builder. In his free time, he enjoyed writing for a local paper called Newport News.
Starting The Free South
Bailey began The Free South newspaper in Newport, Kentucky. His wife and his 14 children helped him with this big project. This newspaper was very important because it was the only one in Kentucky in the 1850s that openly opposed slavery.
Challenges for The Free South
Speaking out against slavery was not easy. On October 28, 1859, a group of people who supported slavery caused trouble. They were very angry about what The Free South was printing. This group threw Bailey's printing presses and typewriters into the street, damaging them.
After this event, William Shreve Bailey moved his newspaper business to Cincinnati, Ohio. He continued to publish his paper from there.
Bailey's Later Life
William Shreve Bailey kept working on his publishing business for many years. After his wife passed away in 1867, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee. He continued his work there and lived to be 80 years old.
