Wendell Phillips was an American orator who aimed to discredit the Constitution of the
Wendell Phillips was frustrated with the political inactivity to manumit the slaves in the
Phillips struggled finding an adequate perspective to attack slavery.[10] He wanted to speak to the mind of the slave owner with hope of appealing to their moral conscience, but he was unable to discuss or agitate the subject of slavery in the South.[11]The southern slave society restricted free speech. The majority of the South, particularly the slave, was excluded from public debate.[12]Phillips was unable to persuade those who adamantly defended the peculiar institution, so he resolved to talk to the people in the North.[13] He attempted to persuade the North “that slavery was an evil thing from which they should divorce themselves.”[14] His reputation as a critic of public policy became so famous that his speeches became national events reported by the
Northerners understood that Phillips cursed the Constitution of the
Phillips further drew perspective from the United States Declaration of Independence. He understood the need for natural rights for the Negro. Phillips believed natural rights referred to the right to resist and the right to rebel; if the Fathers could revolt against tyranny then, according to Phillips, so could the Negro.[20] Phillips argued the Fugitive Slave Law, a federal law passed on September 18, 1850 , “should be resisted by force.”[21]Phillips persistently argued against the law even when other American politicians, such as Abraham Lincoln, kept quiet over the law.[22]
Wendell Phillips argued that it was slavery supported by the Constitution that divided the nation. He did not believe it was the abolitionist movement that created such a national divide.[23]Phillips had become the great abolitionist of theUnited States
Phillips detested everything about the Constitution and wanted to reform American institutions. He felt the ballot box could be used to elevate the nation “to a higher platform of intellect and morality,” but not without first changing American institutions.[29]Phillips believed in the “re-education of a whole people.”[30] He wanted to change American school-houses, American literature and American newspapers because he felt the political agitator had to enforce new ideas on to the editor, teacher and politician.[31]Phillips believed “public opinion could be transformed by rational means.”[32]Once new ideas of freedom reformed public opinion then a more just society for the bondsman could develop.[33] New ideas which led to a change in public opinion could “eradicate the prejudice of the twenty millions of whites.”[34] After President Abraham Lincoln won the presidential election in 1860, Phillips pursued the Republican Party as a vehicle for the abolition movement.[35] He developed into an American nationalist, and understood that the North and the South comprised a nation.[36]]--> In the winter of 1861-1862, he argued the “people of the States…are essentially one.”[37]
In March and April 1862, Phillips embarked on a six-week lecture tour which took him to the capital and through cities inNew York , Pennsylvania Ohio Illinois Michigan Washington Lincoln
Phillips was convinced the purpose of the agitator was not to make laws or determine public policy, but to arouse public opinion “in the interest of some large social transformation.”[41] Phillips advocated freedom for the slave in the years that led up to the American Civil War. Although he was not a politician, he influenced political thought and eventually Abraham Lincoln believed the slaves should be free.[42]Phillips used political discussion to induce social change because he argued such discussion was a mechanism for democracy.[43]
Wendell Phillips argued that it was slavery supported by the Constitution that divided the nation. He did not believe it was the abolitionist movement that created such a national divide.[23]Phillips had become the great abolitionist of the
Phillips detested everything about the Constitution and wanted to reform American institutions. He felt the ballot box could be used to elevate the nation “to a higher platform of intellect and morality,” but not without first changing American institutions.[29]Phillips believed in the “re-education of a whole people.”[30] He wanted to change American school-houses, American literature and American newspapers because he felt the political agitator had to enforce new ideas on to the editor, teacher and politician.[31]Phillips believed “public opinion could be transformed by rational means.”[32]Once new ideas of freedom reformed public opinion then a more just society for the bondsman could develop.[33] New ideas which led to a change in public opinion could “eradicate the prejudice of the twenty millions of whites.”[34] After President Abraham Lincoln won the presidential election in 1860, Phillips pursued the Republican Party as a vehicle for the abolition movement.[35] He developed into an American nationalist, and understood that the North and the South comprised a nation.[36]]--> In the winter of 1861-1862, he argued the “people of the States…are essentially one.”[37]
In March and April 1862, Phillips embarked on a six-week lecture tour which took him to the capital and through cities in
Phillips was convinced the purpose of the agitator was not to make laws or determine public policy, but to arouse public opinion “in the interest of some large social transformation.”[41] Phillips advocated freedom for the slave in the years that led up to the American Civil War. Although he was not a politician, he influenced political thought and eventually Abraham Lincoln believed the slaves should be free.[42]Phillips used political discussion to induce social change because he argued such discussion was a mechanism for democracy.[43]
Wendell Phillips felt he was living in a democratic age and the ideas of the people were important. He felt there was nothing more important to society than using the “moral imagination” to transform the sentiments of the masses into “the form most suitable for the next forward movement of history.”[44] According to American historian Richard Hofstadter, the man “who launches a sound argument for a just cause is certain to win in the long run.”[45]
Bartlett, Irving H., “Wendell Phillips and the Eloquence of Abuse,” American Quarterly 11, no. 4 (1959), pg 509, http://www.jstor.org/stable 2710313 (accessedJuly 22, 2011 ).
Marcus, Robert D., “Wendell Phillips and American Institutions,” The Journal of American History 56, no. 1 (1959), pg. 49 http://www.jstor.org/stable/1902062 (accessed September 22, 2011 )
[2]“Ibid.” pgs. 44, 45, 46, 49
Bartlett, Irving H., “Wendell Phillips and the Eloquence of Abuse,” American Quarterly 11, no. 4 (1959), pg 509, http://www.jstor.org/stable 2710313 (accessed
[6]Hofstadter, Richard., pg. 141
[7]Marcus, Robert D., pgs 43, 45
[8]“Ibid.” pg. 46
[9]Bartlett, Irving H., pg. 509
[10] Marcus, Robert D. pg. 48[11]Hofstadter, Richard., pg. 186
[12]Marcus, Robert D. pg 46
[13]“Ibid.”
[14]Hofstadter, Richard pg. 186
[15]Bartlett, Irving H., pg. 509
[16] Hofstadter, Richard pg. 184
[17]“Ibid.” pg. 190
[18]“Ibid.”
[19]“Ibid.”
[20]“Ibid.” pg. 189, 192
[21]“Ibid.” pg. 192
[22]“Ibid.” pg. 138, 192
[23]Marcus, Robert D., pg. 49
[24]Hofstadter, Richard, pg. 198
[25]Marcus, Robert D., pg. 49
[26]Hofstadter, Richard, pg. 185
[27]“Ibid” pg. 198
[28]Bartlett
[29]Marcus, Robert D., pg. 44-46
“Ibid” pg. 44
“Ibid” pg. 46
“Ibid” pgs. 42, 46
“Ibid” pg. 46
“Ibid” pg. 44
Hofstadter, Richard pg. 192
Marcus, Robert D pg. 48
Marcus, Robert D. pg. 48
Hofstadter, Richard, pg. 198
“Ibid”
“Ibid”
[41]“Ibid” pg. 178
[42]“Ibid” pg. 188
[43] Marcus, Robert D., pg. 46
[44]Hofstadter, Richard pg. 179
[45]“Ibid”
