Abolition

Title: Article About the Slave Case
Type: Newspaper
Date: 1860
Source: Minnesota Historical Society

Description: Abolitionists often used the local newspapers as a way of expressing their views about the Eliza Winston case. This republican writer was visiting Minnesota at the time of the escape.
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Activities:

1. The author of this article thinks that Minnesotans don't enforce the law that slaves should be made free when they enter the state because Minnesotans don't want to lose the money that Southerners bring to Minnesota. What does the author think is more important than that money?
   
   
   
   
   Answer: Freedom for Eliza and all slaves.
2. The editors of the newspaper disagree with the author of this article about one thing. What is it?
   
   
   
   
   Answer: They agree that slaves should be freed, but they don't like the way the abolitionists act when freeing slaves and how they treat the Southerners whose slaves are being freed.
3. Newspapers often present more than one side of a story. Do you think that this newspaper does that?
   
   
   
   
   Answer: This paper is willing to print both sides of a story, but also includes its own views in responding to those who write articles for the paper.
4. How could the fact that author of the "Slavery in Minnesota" article has only been in town a few weeks affect the opinion local readers might have had of his ideas?
   
   
   
   
   Answer: Some people might not think he completely understands the events in the town because he is just a visitor.