Abolitionists and Progressives

The Similarities Between the Anti-Slavery and Reform Movements

Dec 18, 2009 William L. Wunder

Abolitionists and progressives had several characteristics in common, namely in the areas of religion, women, and political parties.

The major difference between the abolitionists and progressives was their goals. The abolitionists focussed only on eliminating slavery prior to the Civil War. The progressives had many goals concerning social and political reform in the early twentieth century, from corporate regulation to referendum voting. But the similarities between the two groups are striking:

• Religious fervor
• Active female participation
• Formation of political third parties

From the Second Great Awakening to the Social Gospel

Both groups had a religious background. The Second Great Awakening of the early nineteenth century sparked an evangelical enthusiasm that gave birth to moral and cultural reforms- abolitionism being the most dynamic, according to historian James McPherson. Abolitionists believed that all people were equal in God's eyes- souls of blacks were as valuable as whites'. For one of God's children to enslave another was the most heinous sin of all.

The progressives were influenced by the Social Gospel movement of the late nineteenth century. This intellectual movement pushed christian duty toward public service rather than personal salvation. "Love thy neighbor" meant help the poor. The New York Times described the Progressive Party convention of 1912 as "an assemblage of religious enthusiasts...It was a Methodist camp meeting." Delegates sang "Onward Christian Soldiers." Theodore Roosevelt ended his speech at the convention with: "We stand at Armageddon, and we battle for the Lord."

From the Grimke Sisters to Jane Addams

Both groups had active female involvement. Abolitionism provided female reformers a public forum. William Lloyd Garrison's radical abolitionist movement attracted female writers like Lucretia Mott and Lydia Marie Child. Sisters Sarah and Angelina Grimke gave abolitionist lectures to mixed audiences of men and women, a situation frowned upon by conservative ministers. It can be argued that the many anti-slavery petitions women sent to Congress helped spark the Civil War.

The progressive movement also provided opportunities to women. According to James Chace, Jane Addams incarnated the social justice program of the progressives. She led the settlement house movement, which utilized women, like Eleanor Roosevelt and Frances Perkins, as social workers and teachers. The rise of women's organizations, such as the National Consumers' League and the General Federation of Women's Clubs, fueled the lobbying efforts of progressives.

From the Liberty Party to the Progressive Party

Both movements spawned political third parties. In 1839, Alvan Stewart, president of the New York State Anti-Slavery Society, organized non-Garrisonian abolitionists into the Liberty Party. The party ran James G. Birney for president in 1840 and 1844. It succeeded in popularizing the belief in a Slave Power conspiracy. In 1848, most abolitionists supported the more moderate Free-Soil Party, which also included dissident Democrats and Whigs.

The progressives also sought political redress outside the two-party system. In 1912, the progressive wing of the Republican Party split to form the Progressive or Bull Moose Party. Its nominee, Theodore Roosevelt, finished second to Democrat Woodrow Wilson. The party was revived in 1924 under the leadership of Robert LaFollette. It united progressives from both major parties with socialists, unionists, farmers, and reformers in general.

Despite eras and goals separating these two grand movements, abolitionism and progressivism had significant similarities. Both were rooted in religion. Both had women as major participants. And both formed third parties. This is just one more example of history repeating itself.

Sources

Bailyn, Bernard, et al eds, The Great Republic, Heath: Lexington MA, 1985.

McPherson, James, Battle Cry of Freedom, Oxford: New York, 1988.

Morone, James A., Hellfire Nation, Yale: New Haven, 2003.

Miller, William Lee, Arguing About Slavery, Vintage: New York, 1995.

The copyright of the article Abolitionists and Progressives in American History is owned by William L. Wunder. Permission to republish Abolitionists and Progressives in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

William Lloyd Garrison, Abolitionist