Abolitionists were the people who wanted to stop slavery. To abolish means to stop. Abolition movement started as soon as slavery started. At first abolitionists were not organized, but later they became very powerful and organized. In the beginning most abolitionists wanted to stop slavery for the religious reasons. Many of the first abolitionists were Quakers. They believed that it is against their religion to hold people as slaves. Later Quakers supported runaway slaves and helped in underground railroad. Abolitionists were black and white. Many free blacks or runaway slaves became supporters of abolitionist movement. Many abolitionists were white. Some were poor religious people who tried to help the best they can, and some were very rich and powerful people who gave a lot of money to help stop the slavery. Women were very important in abolitionist movement and were even allowed to speak in public against it. It is important to know that many white abolitionist did not really think that black people and white people are equal - they just thought that slavery is wrong. All abolitionists did not think the same way about stopping slavery. Some thought that slaves should be freed but live away from white people. Some free states even had laws that did not allow blacks to move in their state. For example, in 1851 Iowa started a law that gave every black person three days to leave the state or go to jail. Some abolitionists believed that all people are equal and should be treated the same. They tried to help freed slaves find jobs and get education for their children. Some abolitionist only wanted to stop slavery from spreading. They wanted to leave slavery alone in slave states but did not want any more states to join America as slave states. Abraham Lincoln supported this view before he became president! Some abolitionist had very radical views. One of the most radical views was colonization movement. Thomas Jefferson supported this view.

Some abolitionists believed that when the slaves are freed, they should return to Africa. Most white abolitionists who thought this way, did not believe that blacks and whites are equal. They thought slavery was wrong, but not because all people are equal, but because it was against their religion. Black abolitionist who believed in colonization did not want to live in the country that treated them so bad. Thomas Jefferson was one of the people who believed in colonization. William Garrison and Frederick Douglas were against it.

The colonization movement even bought land in Africa. That land still exists and today is a country named Liberia.