The Martyr Age of the United States

What it is

This is a printed essay written by Harriet Martineau, a British writer, published in 1838. It is held by the Library of Congress. It describes the American abolitionist movement to a British audience.

Why it matters

Martineau, writing as an outside observer, portrays the unity and moral conviction of the abolitionists, a group that included Garrison as one of its most prominent leaders. The essay shows how the American antislavery movement was being watched and discussed internationally, and how observers like Martineau saw it as remarkable for bringing together people of different backgrounds around one cause.

Look closer

• Why might a British writer have been interested in describing American abolitionists to her readers?
• What words does the author use to describe the abolitionists, and what do they suggest about her opinion of them?
• How might this account differ from one written by an American abolitionist themselves?