The Propellent Role Of Christianity In American Abolitionist Movement

Christianity has played an indispensable role in both American religious historyand secular history. The U.S could be defined as a country based on the spirit of“Protestantism”. Both political faiths and social affairs in American society weregreatly influenced by Christian Protestantism in the nation’s shaping period.Undoubtedly, American abolitionist campaign is by no means cutting off connectionwith Christian influence. The modern American abolitionist movement emerged inthe early1830s as a byproduct of the upsurge of religious revivalism popularlyknown as the Second Great Awakening. Revivalistic tenets led abolitionists to regardslavery as the product of personal sin and to demand emancipation as the price ofrepentance. Furthermore, it is not difficult to find that there exist voluminousscriptures in Bible claiming that Slavery is an unforgivable sin and should beforbidden. And anti-slavery always has occupied an important position in Christiandoctrines. By presenting the backgrounds and deeds of some outstanding white andblack abolitionists, the author has demonstrated how Christianity served as apositive momentum to give impetus to the abolitionist movement and to drive thismovement forward until final emancipation. This thesis is intended to explore therelationship between Christianity and American abolitionist movement, and howChristianity has been as a positive momentum to propel this notable historical eventobjectively from the existing data.