On January 1, 1831, William Lloyd Garrison published the inaugural editorial of The Liberator, a radical abolitionist newspaper that would become a central voice in the movement to end slavery in the United States. In this bold and uncompromising declaration, Garrison announced his commitment to the immediate emancipation of enslaved people, rejecting the gradualist approach
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On July 5, 1852, Frederick Douglass delivered his powerful and impassioned speech “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” to the Rochester Ladies’ Anti-Slavery Society in Rochester, New York. A former enslaved person and renowned abolitionist, Douglass used this platform to confront the hypocrisy of a nation that celebrated freedom while continuing to
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Published in 1852, Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe became an instant bestseller and is credited with playing a crucial role in the anti-slavery movement in the United States. The novel tells the story of Uncle Tom, an enslaved Black man whose life and hardships expose the brutal realities of slavery. Stowe’s vivid portrayal
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Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) WHO HE WAS: Ralph Waldo Emerson was an American essayist, lecturer, philosopher, and poet who led the transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century. He was seen as a champion of individualism and a prescient critic of the countervailing pressures of society. Emerson disseminated his thoughts through dozens of published essays and
Winfield Scott (1786-1866) WHO HE WAS: Winfield Scott was a senior United States Army officer, diplomat, and presidential candidate known for his military service in the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, and the early stages of the American Civil War. His nickname, “Old Fuss and Feathers,” underscored his penchant for military pomp and strict
Stephen Watts Kearny (1794-1848) WHO HE WAS: Stephen Watts Kearny was a U.S. Army officer, notable for his roles in the Mexican-American War, particularly his conquest of California. He served with distinction throughout his military career, earning the nickname “Father of the West” for his significant contributions to the expansion of the United States. WHAT
Robert E. Lee (1807-1870) WHO HE WAS: Robert E. Lee was an American Confederate general best known for commanding the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War from 1862 until his surrender in 1865. A top graduate of West Point, Lee’s military tactics are still studied, and he remains a controversial figure
Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885) WHO HE WAS: Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States and a commanding general during the Civil War, leading the Union Army to victory over the Confederacy. His presidency was marked by efforts to reconstruct the post-war South and enforce civil rights for freed slaves, though his
Sam Houston (1793-1863) WHO HE WAS: Sam Houston was an American soldier and politician, renowned for his pivotal role in securing Texas’s independence from Mexico. He served as the first and third President of the Republic of Texas, was a U.S. Senator after Texas’s annexation, and became the governor of two different states: Tennessee and
William Travis (1809-1836) WHO HE WAS: William Barret Travis was a 19th-century American lawyer and soldier. At the age of 26, he commanded the Texan forces at the Battle of the Alamo during the Texas Revolution, where he perished alongside his men. His leadership and the letter pleading for reinforcements have become symbols of valor
