Abolitionism in America

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Pennsylvania Hall Association. History of Pennsylvania Hall, which was destroyed by a mob, on the 17th of May, 1838. Philadelphia: Printed by Merrihew and Gunn, No. 7 Carter's Alley, 1838.
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Pennsylvania Hall
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On May 17, 1838, an abolitionist convention was held in Philadelphia’s Pennsylvania Hall. A large mob burned the building to the ground, protesting against abolitionism. The city was plagued at the time with anti-black and anti-abolitionist violence, particularly from Philadelphian workers who feared that they would have to compete for jobs with freed slaves. Pennsylvania Hall had been open only three days when it fell.

Later that year, the Pennsylvania Hall Association documented the destruction of Pennsylvania Hall in this publication, proving that the mob’s violent action against them was unprovoked.

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