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IntroductionThe son of an enslaved father and a free mother, David Walker published his controversial pamphlet, Appeal to the Coloured Citizens of the World, in 1829. Although he was never enslaved, Walker witnessed the evils of slavery and racism during his childhood in North Carolina. After moving to Boston and setting up a clothing store, Walker found himself in the company of activists who shared his desire to end slavery. Before writing the pamphlet, Walker contributed regularly to Freedom’s Journal, the first African American newspaper published in the United States. Unlike gradual emancipationists, who believed the institution of slavery should gradually be phased out, Walker urged enslaved workers to rebel against their masters to bring about an immediate abolition of slavery. Once copies of his pamphlet made their way to the South and into the hands of enslaved workers and slaveholders, white southerners grew increasingly alarmed because they feared a rebellion was imminent. Sourcing Questions
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Excerpts from Walker’s Appeal, in Four Articles; Together with a Preamble, to the Coloured Citizens of the World, but in Particular, and Very Expressly, to Those of the United States of America, Written in Boston, State of Massachusetts, September 28, 1829 http://docsouth.unc.edu/nc/walker/walker.html Who wrote an appeal in 1829?On Sept. 28, 1829, David Walker published one of the most important documents of the 19th century, An Appeal to the Coloured Citizens of the World. The pamphlet denounces slavery and racism. Though labeled seditious with penalties for those who circulated it, The Appeal was widely read by 1830.
Which black abolitionist was the president of the Philadelphia AntiFrom 1845 to 1850, Purvis served as president of the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society, a biracial organization. As a supporter of the Underground Railroad, Purvis served as chairman of the General Vigilance Committee from 1852 to 1857, which gave direct aid to fugitive slaves.
What did David Walker call for in his appeal?David Walker's Appeal, arguably the most radical of all anti-slavery documents, caused a great stir when it was published in September of 1829 with its call for slaves to revolt against their masters.
What was David Walker famous for?In the fall of 1829, Boston abolitionist David Walker wrote and published a pamphlet entitled, “Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World.” In the pamphlet, Walker denounced slavery and encouraged enslaved people to fight for their freedom.
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