Inventions / Communications Change
Antebellum / Slavery Period

Frederick Douglass and Abolition Printing

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In the early-to-mid 1800s, a group of activists called abolitionists fought for the end of slavery. These men and women traveled around the country using a variety of tactics, including holding meetings, making speeches, and leading protests to promote their cause. One of the more popular methods abolitionists used was printing. Because of advances in printing presses, abolitionists could quickly and cheaply print pamphlets, newsletters, and newspapers to help spread the word about ending slavery.

Frederick Douglass

One of the leaders of the abolition movement was Frederick Douglass. Douglass was a powerful speaker, a talented writer, and a popular organizer during the 19 th century. His abilities combined with his experiences as a former slave prepared him to become a national abolitionist leader.

The North Star

Douglass, a former slave who learned how to read and write, strongly believed in the power of the written and spoken word. In 1847, Douglass started a newspaper, seen here, called the North Star, to help promote causes that ranged from abolition to education to women’s rights.

Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass, an American slave / written by himself.

Frederick Douglass also published an autobiography. The “Narrative of Frederick Douglass” was one of the most widely-read abolitionist texts in the 1800s.

Illustrations of the Anti-Slavery Almanac
William Lloyd Garrison co-founded the Anti-Slavery Society in 1833 with abolitionist Arthur Tappan. The society wanted to make the abolitionist cause more popular nationwide and openly campaigned for an end to slavery. Seen here is a broadside (a single printed sheet popular in the 1700s and 1800s) from the Society’s annual almanac.
The Anti-Slavery Harp: A Collection of Songs for Anti-slavery Meetings

Abolitionists like Frederick Douglass also used popular songs to spread their message. In this document, William Wells Brown, a former slave like Douglass, writes this poem to begin his songbook.