Definition and goals of abolitionism

Summary

Abolitionism, or the abolitionist movement, is the political movement aimed at ending slavery and liberating enslaved people worldwide. It gained major momentum in the Western world in the late 18th and 19th centuries, pushing for legal abolition of slavery (and in many cases also the slave trade) and for the recognition of enslaved people as fully human and entitled to freedom. The movement’s goals typically included immediate or eventual emancipation through laws and political action, along with broader efforts to build public opposition to slavery. In different countries, abolitionism took varied forms—such as court decisions, legislative reforms, revolutionary decrees, and international investigations and treaties—yet it consistently sought to dismantle slavery as an institution and secure freedom for those enslaved.

Key Points

• 1

  Abolitionism is a political movement dedicated to ending slavery and freeing enslaved individuals globally.

• 2

  Its goals commonly included legal abolition (and often suppression of the slave trade), plus building anti-slavery sentiment and political pressure for emancipation.