Discover the Top 10 Astonishing Fun Facts about William Lloyd Garrison: Unveiling the Life of an Iconic Abolitionist

1. OG Antislavery Bromance

Before chasing waterfalls, he chased moral high grounds: William Lloyd Garrison was a devoted evangelical Christian and early good-vibes influencer, teaming up with the OG of antislavery reformers, Benjamin Lundy. The dynamic duo helped change Garrison's views to immediate emancipation and equal rights in the United States - making colonialism the "B-side" hit.
Source => billofrightsinstitute.org

2. Friendship Fallout

Talk about a bromance gone bust: William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglass were once the dynamic duo of the abolitionist movement, touring together to spread anti-slavery sentiment. But when Douglass launched his own newspaper and their opinions on the Constitution's role in ending slavery diverged, these BFFs eventually had a not-so-happy ending to their friendship.
Source => rbscp.lib.rochester.edu

Did you know Frederick Douglass' connection to Valentine's Day? ❤️ His mother called him her "Little Valentine," which is why he celebrated his birthday on February 14th! Discover more heartwarming facts about this inspirational figure.

=> Fun Facts about Frederick-Douglass

3. Pacifist Powerhouse

Who needs swords and shields when you have a pen and a lofty idea? In the case of William Lloyd Garrison, he took pacifism to the extreme: He founded the New England Non-Resistance Society, which not only condemned violence but rejected loyalty to any human government, and demanded members to defy social distinctions based on race, nationality, or gender. With a "Declaration of Sentiments" signed by 44 people, including 20 women, and a two-year publication run of The Non-Resistant, Garrison truly believed in the power of laying down your arms and picking up your beliefs.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

4. Barbarity Babbles Bailout

Locked up for "barbarity babbles": William Lloyd Garrison faced six months in jail and a $50 fine for his cheeky "Black List" column in The Genius of Universal Emancipation, exposing the cruel side of slavery; but after a philanthropic bailout by Arthur Tappan, he walked out in just seven weeks and birthed The Liberator newspaper.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

5. Energizer Bunny of Abolition

Channeling his inner Energizer Bunny and making printing presses work beyond their capacity: William Lloyd Garrison never missed a beat, publishing "The Liberator" for 35 consecutive years, making it one of the longest running abolitionist newspapers in the United States.
Source => nps.gov

6. Fiery Constitution Condemnation

If you thought burning bridges was intense, then wait until you hear about torching constitutions: William Lloyd Garrison, a key figure in American abolitionism, once set fire to a copy of the US Constitution, dramatically dubbing it a "covenant with death" and a "league with hell" because it supported slavery.
Source => blackpast.org

7. Anti-Voting Antislavery

Hang on to your ballot boxes and avoid constitutional calamity: William Lloyd Garrison was an abolitionist so radical that he refused to engage in American electoral politics, branding it futile due to the pro-slavery U.S. Constitution. In a bid to break the chains of America's pro-slavery system, Garrison and his allies urged for a divorce of the Union under the banner "No Union with Slaveholders."
Source => archives.gov

8. Emancipation Crumpet Conversion

Before Benjamin Lundy became William Lloyd Garrison's mentor, Garrison wouldn't have been caught dead in an abolitionist bakery, let alone eating the emancipation crumpets: It was the influence of the Quaker antislavery reformer Lundy and his periodical, Genius of Universal Emancipation, that changed Garrison's views on slavery, leading him to advocate for immediate emancipation and equal rights in the United States.
Source => billofrightsinstitute.org

9. Friends with Abe Eventually

Before William Lloyd Garrison was starring in "My Big Fat Abolitionist Wedding", he was throwing some serious shade at Abe Lincoln and the Republican Party: The caustic critic once claimed that the Republican Party could do nothing for the abolition of slavery in slave states but later warmed up to Honest Abe as his stance against slavery advanced during his presidency.
Source => lincolncottage.org

10. Chivalry at the Convention

Ever the gallant gentleman, William Lloyd Garrison gracefully boycotted an entire convention due to bad manners on a global scale: As a crucial supporter of the women's rights movement, he opted to skip 10 days' worth of the 1840 World Anti-Slavery Convention in London, standing in solidarity with women delegates who were unable to participate, eventually paving the way for the Seneca Falls convention eight years later.
Source => nps.gov