Radical Abolitionist Party

The Radical Abolition Party (also known as the Radical Political Abolition Party and American Abolition Society) was a political party formed by abolitionists in the United States in the decade as part of a reaction to the Kansas-Nebraska Act. The party was formed following their first convention in 1855 and lasted until the end of the decade. Although it had roots in the existing Liberty Party, the Radical Abolition Party was distinct from other political groups of the time for their aims to immediately eliminate the institution of slavery (rather than containing it to where it already existed) and advocate for full citizenship rights for African Americans. They also advocated for rights for other marginalized groups, such as women and Native Americans. The RAP’s membership included many prominent black and white abolitionists including Frederick Douglass, James McCune Smith, William Goodell, Gerrit Smith, and John Brown. The RAP was unsuccessful in electing a candidate to office, however, made significant contributions to political discourse around slavery and helped shape the Republican Party’s platform.

Radical Political Abolition Party

Formation	1855

History

Background

The party’s roots are found in the Liberty Party of 1840. The Liberty Party split with the more conservative wing evolving into the Free-Soil Party, and the more radical wing evolving into the RAP. (Stauffer 24 & Perkal 57-58). Gerrit Smith was involved in the founding of both the Liberty Party and the RAP.

Jack argues that the party formed as a reaction to Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 (Jackson 87).

Formation (Convention of 1855)

The inaugural convention was held in Syracuse, New York in June, 1855. This was a historically significant moment as James McCune Smith was first black man to chair a national convention (Jackson 88). Attended by “prominent antislavery radicals representing ten states and Canada” (Stauffer 11).

Activities

Publishing and Distribution of Information

The party distributed printed material to make their arguments more widely known, especially their constitutional argument against slavery (pamphlets and newspapers)

Radical Abolitionist (the party’s main newspaper, edited by William Goodell)

Unconstitutionality of Slavery by Lysander Spooner (pamphlet)

The Kansas Struggle of 1856, In Congress, and in the Presidential Campaign With Suggestions for the Future

Elections

Gerrit Smith was the presidential candidate for the Election of 1856. Despite being the candidate, Smith financially supported the Republican Candidate, John C. Fremont. Frederick Douglass also voiced support for Fremont saying, “it was better to have a half a loaf than no loaf at all” (Perkal 61). The party continues to nominate Gerrit Smith as their candidate in the NY Gubernatorial Election of 1858 and Presidential Election of 1860.         

Reception

William Lloyd Garrison concluded they were “madmen” (Stauffer 42).

Disintegration

“It was not the Republican Party but the American Abolition Society that was forced to close doors within a year [of the 1858 election]…in February 1859, the Society made plans to disband” (Perkal 65). Perkal argues the party’s failure was due to “its refusal to recognize that its constitutional argument challenged the basic convictions and prejudices of the times” (Perkal 66).

Ideology

Distinctions from Contemporary Parties

“While Free Soilers and Republicans were playing defense in terms of slavery’s expansion, Radical Abolitionists were taking up an offensive stance. They firmly advocated for African American rights, including citizenship” (Jackson 88).

“They claimed that politically the Whigs, Democrats, and Know-Nothing Parties were all complicit in maintain the institution of slavery. They argued that Free Soilers were antislavery but did not believe that the federal government should interfere with the laws of states. Finally, they acknowledged the American Anti-Slavery Society, or Garrison Party, labored only within the limits of moral suasion to abolish slavery and it employed no political power to this end. Accordingly, the party saw itself as ‘the only political party in the land, that insists on the right an duty to wield the political power of the nation for the overthrow of every part and parcel of American Slavery.’….The activism of the Radical Political Abolition Party forced a conservative Republican Party further from the center in advocating for the enslaved“ (Jackson 89).

“Most political abolitionists [leaving the Whig and Democratic Parties] joined the Free Soil and Republican Parties. There was no abolitionist party or organization that offered an alternative to the program of the Republican Party, and the American Abolition Society hoped to fill this gap” (Perkal 59).

Constitutional Argument for Abolishing Slavery

William Goodell contributed his formulation of the Constitutional argument against slavery which was grounded in his interpretation of multiple provisions (Perkal 58)

1.     Due process clause of the Fifth Amendment

2.     Guarantee clause (provided for all states a republican form of government, republican government is inconsistent with slavery). Absence of “white” as qualifier for its provisions, Constitution applies to all people, regardless of color

3.     Commerce clause gave Congress the right to determine what was property and prohibit the slave trade among the states

4.     Declaration of Independence was part of US Constitutional Law, prohibited slavery by its equality clause

Stauffer argues this argument is based on original interpretation by John Quincy Adams, however Adams sought gradual rather than immediate emancipation (Stauffer 26).

Perkal describes how the Dred Scott decision “made more difficult the American Abolition Society’s effort to educate the public….for the majority and dissenting opinions had both implicitly rejected the radical interpretation of the Constitution that was held by the Society” (Perkal 62).

Use of Violence

Perkal contends “the question of using violent means to abolish slavery was the most divisive issue at the Convention” (58).

Stauffer argues “the party’s platform specifically affirmed violence as a way to end slavery and oppression” (9). Also describes the “high point” of the first convention is Smith’s speech reading letters from John Brown’s sons who were fighting in Kansas. Describes collection of funds and weapons (Stauffer 13).

Jackson agrees with Stauffer as she states, “violence was justified and even sanctioned from a biblical standpoint” and quotes McCune Smith, “Our white brethren cannot understand us unless we speak to them in their own language; they recognize only the philosophy of force” (88).

Legacy

“The American Abolition Society had failed to convince the nation of its constitutional views regarding slavery and the Negro. And historians, taking their cue from contemporaries, have largely ignored the radical abolitionist movement. But at times we can learn as much from failure as from success. The Society’s views were rejected not so much because its arguments were constitutionally untenable, but because few were ready to make such a radical use of the Constitution” (Perkal 66). “Though the society failed to convince the country of the correctness of its constitutional views regarding slavery and the Negro, it played an important role in the antislavery movement of the 1850’s. The radicals were able to exert some moral influence upon the Republican Party, perhaps preventing further compromise with abolitionist ideals” (Perkal 68).

“Missionaries to the Republicans.” (68)

“…deep cultural relevance…unprecedented moment of interracial unity and collapsing of racial barriers” (Stauffer 8).

Notable Members

Frederick Douglass

James McCune Smith

Gerrit Smith

William Goodell

John Brown

Jermain Loguen

Lewis Tappan

See Also

Liberty Party

Free Soil Party

Republican Party

American Missionary Association