-
A Hero Born
He was born in Newhampton, Massachusetts to a strictly Calvinist family. Calvanist is a major branch of Western Christianity. His mother was Sarah Homes and his father was Benjamin Tappan. He was the seventh child of the family, and also the fifth son. He lived in a fairly large family of eleven children. -
A Move to Boston
He moved to Boston in hopes of opening a successful business. His goal was to start a dry goods business in this Massachusetts city. This must not have been successful because about six years later, he moved to Portland. Maine.
Not an exact date
Exact date not given, but it occured in this year. -
A Successful Business
Arthur moved to Portland, Maine in 1807. He opened a successful firm. This is where they made silk. This business made him and his brother Lewis very wealthy men. In fact, this business was so successful that they moved this business to Montreal, Canada.
Not an exact date. -
His First Abolitionist Campaign
Arthur’s involvement in the civil war was that he was an abolitionist. An abolitionist is someone who is against something that they feel is wrong, and they will do anything and everything within their abilities to stop it. He started a very aggressive printing campaign against slavery. This campaign began in New York.
Not an exact date. -
The Journal of Commerce
Journal of CommerceHe started the Journal of Commerce with his brother Lewis in 1827. He used this “journal” as a way of protesting against slavery. He also made another campaign against Sunday mail. The Sunday mail campaign was very successful, and spread throughout the area. You can view the now successful website through the link that is attatched. -
Anti-Slavery Societies
The Anti-Slavery SocietyHe organized the New-York Antislavery Society and the American Antislavery Society. These were his first major movements towards the end of slavery. These were groups of people who would protest and start campaigns against the end of slavery. These societies were a huge success and were a great influence on people who also wanted an end to slavery. Click "The American Anti-Slavery Society" to find out more.
Not an exact date. -
Lane Theological Seminary
He helped found the Lane Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Lane Seminary is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. The full name of it is the Lane Theological Seminary, theological meaning relating to the study and teaching of a God or multiple Gods. Even the seminary became divided over slavery. Many people left, school board directors prohibited students from supporting abolitionism, and a lot of people left to go to the Oberlin College, which was also built partially by Arthur Tappan. -
Building The Oberlin College
He helped build the Oberlin College in Ohio. The Oberlin College is located in Oberlin, Ohio. It is a private college that is focused on the liberal arts. The building of this college was very significant to the ending of slavery. This college was a part of many “firsts” for the African race. This college was the first institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. This was very important because this finally gave black adults the education that they needed. -
Panic of 1837
The Panic of 1837 was an economic crisis that ruined Arthurs businessman status and shut down his silk factories. This was called the Panic of 1837. It was a major financial crisis that spread throughout most of the United States. It lasted till the mid-1840’s. It had both domestic and foreign origins, meaning that it came from imported things and the factories in the United States. This crisis happened because as profits, prices, and wages went up, unemployment went up. -
The Amistad Overtaken
The Tappan brothers (Arthur and Lewis) and The Journal of Commerce attracted bitter criticism for their campaign to free the Africans who had taken over the Amistad (slave ship). The Africans had taken over the Amistad in hope of freedom. This later was brought to court and the Africans were later announced as illegally transported and held as slaves, so they were freed. This was a huge break in trying to end slavery, but the South didn’t like it being publicized by The Journal of Commerce. -
Founding the National Era
Uncle Tom's CabinLewis Tappan, Arthur’s brother, helped found the National Era, which, in 1852, published Uncle Tom’s Cabin (Harriet Beecher Stowe). This book had a huge effect on people’s views of slavery. The South hated this book because it was turning so many people against slavery, and the North liked it because it was getting more people to see their point of view on slavery. -
Liberty Party
The Liberty Party (created by Arthur Tappan) ended in 1848. -
Fugitive Slave Act of 1850
After the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 was passed, he refused to comply with the new law and started donating money to the Underground Railroad. This was part of the 1850 Compromise and it concerned the Northerners because of their fears of a “slave power conspiracy”. This law said that all runaway slaves were, upon capture, to be returned to their masters. This was also horrifying to the slaves because when they were returned, they would probably be severely beaten, if not killed. -
Letter to Lincoln
A Letter to Lincoln The link will take you to a site where you can read the letter written to Abraham Lincoln by Arthur Tappan. Tappan wrote a letter to Abraham Lincoln about his fear that secessionists will succeed in dividing the union. This was a three page letter that was written and sent in 1862. -
Rest In Peace Arthur Tappan...
On July 23, 1865, Arthur Tappan died. He made a huge difference in the lives of people, not only slaves, but everybody. He is definitely an unsung hero…
