Who were the abolitionists? What was the abolitionist movement? Teach your kids (ages 7-11) about abolitionism with a fun biography for kids.
The history of slavery and abolition from slavery is important for our kids to learn from a Christian, well-researched perspective. It’s a history that has been appropriated to teach untrue things, and a history that is difficult to look at. After all, abuses executed upon those in captivity were especially heinous.
Of slavery, English politician and abolitionist William Wilberforce (1759-1833) once said:
You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know.
In the Church, Scripture was used to defend keeping people in chains. Yet, faithful Christians rose up to contradict the abuse of both God’s Word and of his created human beings. It’s important that we teach our children the history of those who stood for freedom in the name of Christ. It’s important, too, that we teach them about the evils of chattel slavery, about the Scriptural mandates against it, and about how faithful Christians helped end slavery.
Christian biographies can be incredibly inspiring. After all, they are the stories of how God used common, every-day people to his glory for the good of the Church. Biographies, too, are a wonderful way for kids to learn theology and to see God’s sovereign hand in history.
Who Were the Abolitionists?
Courageous people do not usually intend to be brave. Instead, God’s people use the gifts he gives them to glorify God and to serve others. As we look back upon the lives of people in the past, we see how God orchestrates every event to help his children grow in character and to accomplish a specific role in his story of the world.
Who Were the Abolitionists?, Danika Cooley (Christian Focus Publications, 2023), page 6
The Abolitionists labored to end slavery for two hundred years–from AD 1688 to 1888.
The word abolition means to abolish (or end) a system or an institution. Abolitionists were those who fought to end global slavery and the slave trade.
Christian abolitionists loved their neighbors. They took seriously the Scriptural commands to love biblical justice, to protect others, and to and to speak for those in need.
Christian abolitionists were:
- Black and white
- Poor and rich
- Enslaved, formerly enslaved, and free
- Educated and illiterate
What the Christian abolitionists had in common was their love for Jesus and their love for their neighbors. They were willing to dedicate their time, resources, and even their lives to the mission of ending chattel slavery.
What Was the Abolitionist Movement
Abolitionists worked tirelessly for two centuries. They:
- Wrote arguments against slavery based on Scripture.
- Pressured governments to end the slave trade.
- Told stories of how they themselves were protected and freed from slavery by God.
- Brought lawsuits to emancipate enslaved people.
- Even fought for freedom.
The Abolitionist movement faced an uphill battle. In the providence of God, the global slave trade was ended and chattel slavery was recognized to be a great evil.
Who Were the Abolitionists? tells the story of ten men and women who loved Jesus. They also loved their neighbors, dedicating their lives to working for their freedom in Christ and freedom from chains.
The Who What Why series is fun to read!Abolitionist Biography for Kids
In a fun and engaging tone, the Christian biography Who Were the Abolitionists? will take your kids through the lives of ten prominent abolitionists.
Who Were the Abolitionists? chapters:
- Introduction: For Such a Time as This
- Chapter One: Granville Sharp (1735-1813)
- Chapter Two: Phillis Wheatley (c. 1745-1797)
- Chapter Three: Olaudah Equiano (c. 1745-1797)
- Chapter Four: Thomas Clarkson (1760-1846)
- Chapter Five: William Wilberforce (1759-1833)
- Chapter Six: Zachary Macaulay (1768-1838)
- Chapter Seven: William Knibb (1803-1845)
- Chapter Eight: Sojourner Truth (1797-1883)
- Chapter Nine: Frederick Douglass (c. 1817-1895)
- Chapter Ten: Harriet Tubman (c. 1820-1913)
- Timeline
Your kids will learn important history and theology, too!
Phillis was not the kind of abolitionist who spoke to large crowds about the Bible and freedom. Rather, Phillis found herself proving to the world that she was, in fact, a person.
Who Were the Abolitionists?, Danika Cooley (Christian Focus Publications, 2023), page 28
Fabulously illustrated by Martyn Smith, the Who What Why series books are each 95 pages long with 8-9 chapters, perfect for your middle grade (ages 8-11) readers. The fun narrative makes each book an engaging family read aloud, but kids will love, too, that they can read the books on their own.
In fun sidebars, your kids will also learn about:
- The Sin After the Sin
- This Time in History
Who Were the Abolitionists? is a fun way for kids to learn about ten men and women who worked to glorify God, love their neighbors, and in the process changed history.
Purchase Who Were the Abolitionists?
Learn more about the Who What Why series and get your FREE Abolition Lapbooks here.
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Christian Biographies for Kids | Christian History for Kids | Theology for Kids
Christian History Matters for Our Kids.
History matters. Now, more than ever, we see how important it is for our children to know and understand history and the Bible.
Here’s why:
- God is the sovereign ruler of all things. It’s important for our kids to see his hand in the history of nations and in the lives of both peasants and kings.
- Christian history is the story of our family history. Our kids get to see how people who love Jesus follow him.
- Understanding history can help our kids learn historic and biblical theology. They learn what the Bible says and what that means for us. They also see when the study of Scripture has taken important turns that have changed the Church.
- Reading Christian biographies and history can be a wonderful way for kids to think outside their own time and culture. God’s Church spans centuries and includes people from every nation.
- Christian biographies help kids consider their own faith, walk with Jesus, and the impact their witness may one day have on others–and on history.
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