Primary sourceNewspaper article12 March 1845
Wendell Phillips Before the Concord Lyceum
Henry David Thoreau · 12 March 1845
Thoreau's 1845 letter to The Liberator praising the abolitionist orator Wendell Phillips.
This early letter by Thoreau shows his public support for abolitionist speaker Wendell Phillips.
About this source
What it is
Written by Henry David Thoreau and published in The Liberator in 1845, this letter praises the lecturer Wendell Phillips after his talk at the Concord Lyceum.
Why it matters
The letter shows Thoreau's early support for the abolitionist movement and his willingness to publicly defend controversial speakers against local opposition. It connects him to the broader anti-slavery network of his time.
Look closer
- Why was Phillips's admission to the Lyceum controversial, according to Thoreau?
- What does Thoreau's praise of silence and attentiveness in the audience suggest about the tension around the lecture?
- How does this letter show Thoreau's views on free speech and conscience?
This newspaper article is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Henry David Thoreau on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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