"One held against his will as a slave has a natural right to kill everyone who seeks to prevent his enjoyment of liberty."
- Theodore Parker, member of the Secret Six
- Theodore Parker, member of the Secret Six
In the 1780s the abolitionist movement first started in Europe by individuals who had a hatred for slavery and what it stood for. The main objective was to end the slave trade and abolish slavery. The abolitionist movement was also beginning in the American colonies. Between the 16th and 19th centuries, an estimated 15 million slaves were taken from Africa to the Americas for labor purposes. In 1807, parts of Europe began to outlaw slavery completely while the U.S. abolished the slave trade, making it illegal to import slaves from Africa. Slavery was debated during the writing of the Declaration of Independence as well as the U.S. Constitution. Between 1777 and 1804, northern states outlawed slavery intensifying tensions within the nation over the issue.
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(5) Compton's by Britannica. "Abolitionist Movement." Encyclopedia Britannica Online School Edition. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2012. Web. 23 Jan. 2012. http://school.eb.com/comptons/article-9272685.