History of American Abolitionism Its four great epochs, embracing narratives of the ordinance of 1787, compromise of 1820, annexation of Texas, Mexican war, Wilmot proviso, negro insurrections, abolition riots, slave rescues, compromise of 1850, Kansas bill of 1854, John Brown insurrection, 1859, valuable statistics, &c., &c., &c., together with a history of the Southern Confederacy.

This compact volume brings together a wealth of newspaper‑sourced facts to trace the rise of American abolitionism from its earliest legislative stirrings to the heated debates that dominate the nation’s public life. It offers a clear, chronological overview of the major milestones—such as the Northwest Ordinance, the Missouri Compromise, and the Kansas‑Nebraska controversy—while also presenting valuable statistics that illuminate the scale of the issue. By preserving primary accounts in a single, readable form, the book serves both scholars and casual listeners who want a solid grounding in this turbulent era.

The narrative distinguishes two broad currents within the movement: the humanitarian activists who seek gradual reform without unsettling the Union, and the more radical reformers willing to challenge property rights and existing laws at any cost. Their competing visions are set against a backdrop of political agitation, moral fever, and the looming clash between Union and disunion. Throughout, the author explores how abolitionist fervor seeped into every facet of society, shaping debates on ethics, law, and national identity.