1. Birth and Early Life:
- Born on December 12, 1805, in Newburyport, Massachusetts.
- Raised by a single father, Abijah Garrison, a merchant and abolitionist.
2. Activism and Journalism:
- Began his journalism career as an apprentice printer at age 13.
- In 1829, he founded The Liberator, an anti-slavery newspaper, in Boston, Massachusetts. The Liberator became one of the most influential abolitionist newspapers of its time.
- Garrison believed that slavery was a moral sin that must be abolished immediately and without compensation to slave owners. He advocated for immediate emancipation and the full citizenship rights of Black people.
3. American Anti-Slavery Society:
- In 1832, Garrison played a key role in founding the New England Anti-Slavery Society. He later helped establish the American Anti-Slavery Society in 1833, becoming one of its prominent leaders.
4. Burning of the Liberator:
- In 1835, a mob of pro-slavery rioters attacked and destroyed the office of The Liberator in Boston. Garrison escaped the mob but continued to publish the newspaper.
5. Garrisonian Philosophy:
- Garrison's abolitionist philosophy was rooted in moral and religious principles. He believed that slavery violated the fundamental rights of human beings and should be opposed through nonviolent means, such as moral suasion and civil disobedience.
6. Split in the Abolitionist Movement:
- Garrison's uncompromising position on immediate abolition led to a split in the abolitionist movement. Some, such as Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman, criticized his methods and felt he did not sufficiently acknowledge the agency and contributions of enslaved people themselves in the fight for freedom.
7. Civil War and Emancipation:
- During the American Civil War (1861-1865), Garrison supported the Union cause and called for the emancipation of enslaved people as a military necessity. He celebrated the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 and the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery, in 1865.
8. Later Years:
- After the Civil War, Garrison continued to be active in various causes, including women's suffrage and civil rights.
- He passed away on May 24, 1879, in New York City.
William Lloyd Garrison is remembered for his unwavering commitment to the cause of abolition and his powerful influence on the anti-slavery movement in the United States. His dedication to nonviolent activism and moral convictions helped pave the way for the eventual emancipation of enslaved people and advancements in civil rights.