Abstract

This essay looks at the history of nineteenth-century American Abolitionism", defined as the movement seeking the immediate emancipation of the U.S. slave population, by focusing on the crucial influence of William Lloyd Garrison and his followers, the "Garrisonians." In doing this, the essay looks at the activities of the main U.S. abolitionist organization, the "American Anti-Slavery Society", and at the different views of the abolitionist struggle held by the "anti-Garrisonians." Also, in line with the most recent historiographical developments, the essay looks at some of the transnational influences on American Abolitionism, and at Garrison's own transnational contacts within the wider Euro-American world.