Who Fought to End Slavery? Meet the Abolitionists

By Adam Sanchez, Brady Bennon, Deb Delman, and Jessica Lovaas

For all its weaknesses and divisions, the abolition movement was perhaps the most significant social movement in U.S. history: an anti-racist movement, a labor movement, a feminist movement, a free speech movement, an antiwar movement.

The secession of Southern states in response to Abraham Lincoln’s election, which triggered the Civil War, is inexplicable without the fear — and sometimes paranoia — the abolition movement kindled in the Southern imagination.

And yet our textbooks cover this essential social movement in a few cursory pages, at best. In curricula and mainstream media, social progress is assigned to Great Men. Young people fail to learn the lesson they need so desperately in order to recognize their own potential power today: Throughout history, social movements have made the world a better place — more democratic, more equal, more just.

The purpose of the abolitionist mixer is to familiarize students with the stories of famous and lesser-known abolitionists and introduce them to a number of the individuals and themes they encounter both in the role play “‘If There Is No Struggle. . .’: Teaching a People’s History of the Abolition Movement” and the reading “A People’s History of the Abolition Movement.”

Materials Needed

• Copies of “Abolitionist Mixer: Questions” (Handout 4-A) for every student.
• “Mixer Roles” (Handout 4–B), cut up. One for every student in the class.*
• Blank nametags. Enough for every student in the class.
• Copies of “A People’s History of the Abolition Movement” (Handout 4–C) for every student.

Roles included in this mixer:

The lesson PDF includes Handout 4-A, Handout 4-5, and Handout 4-C. Download it for free to access this full lesson.

Classroom Story

Survey course teachers are often challenged to present a full understanding of the important roots of the Abolition Movement and its larger context in all of U.S. History.

As abolition is considered one of the largest social movements in U.S. History, it’s important for students to recognize and understand the diversity, disagreements, tactics, milestones, and limitations in this collective effort to abolish the institution of slavery prior to the Civil War.

Students found Who Fought to End Slavery? Meet the Abolitionists incredibly engaging as they simultaneously utilized their audio, visual, and kinesthetic learning skills during the Mixer. When asked if this was a useful instructional tool, students said the repetition of intimate conversations allowed them to really learn their “role” as well as practice speaking and listening skills in an informal environment.

The debrief was particularly powerful as the students shared what they learned from the mixer activity that modified their understanding of abolition in antebellum America.

While Lincoln indeed contributed to the abolishment of slavery, the students were able to recognize the courageous small and large efforts and acts of both ordinary and extraordinary Americans who chose to take a stand to bring the shared values of freedom, justice, and equality to so many others.

—Lindsey DiTomasso

High School Social Studies Teacher, Elmhurst, Illinois

This lesson is published by Rethinking Schools in Teaching a People’s History of Abolition and the Civil War.