Abolitionism

Abolitionism was a movement that sought to end the institution of slavery. It originated with the Enlightenment in Europe and eventually spread to other areas, including the northern United States. Some of its adherents murdered white slave owners and openly encouraged violent slave rebellions in the South. This led to tense situations preceding the American Civil War.

The origination of this movement in Enlightment Europe must be questioned, given that the British abolition of the slave trade was preceded by the Haitian Revolution, which brought an end to racial slavery in that former French colony.

Notable abolitionists included William Wilberforce and John Brown.