Abolitionist Movement

Sign in front of the Old Courthouse: On April 6, 1846, a slave named Dred Scott and his wife Harriet sued for their freedom in this courthouse. The Scotts had been taken by their owner to free jurisdictions and then returned to Missouri, a place state. In 1857, Chief Justice Roger B. Taney of the U.S. Supreme Court announced the decision in the case of Dred Scott v. Sanford. He stated that Americans of African ancestry were not eligible to be citizens, based on the historical claim that they “had no rights which the white man was bound to respect.” Taney’s opinion also declared that Congress could not prevent the spread of slavery into the Western territories. This decision fueled sectional conflict which lead to the Civil War.

Antislavery Meeting Poster

The Abolitionist Movement, known as abolitionism, fervently aimed to end the Transatlantic Slave Trade. This journey, spanning nearly a century, was marked by triumphs and setbacks, ultimately fueling the fires of the Civil War.

Delve into the history of those who resisted legal slavery and explore pivotal moments on the path to emancipation. The Abolitionist Movement showcases stories of resilience, resistance, and the enduring pursuit of justice that resonates with us to this day.

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