The movement to abolish slavery transformed the political, social, and moral landscape of the United States forever. Though it began as a largely pacifist campaign to sway hearts and minds, the abolitionist movement became a protracted and impassioned battle for the very soul of a nation.

While most of us are familiar with the Underground Railroad, there was much more to the movement than helping individuals escape their bondage. In the eight lectures of The Abolitionists, Professor Kellie Carter Jackson of Wellesley College will bring you along as she traces the history of the fight to end slavery in America, from its relatively quiet origins to the turning point at Harper’s Ferry to the Civil War. Along the way, you’ll meet many of the leaders, activists, and agitators that created and sustained the cause of abolition and see how they used everything from political clout to storytelling to physical force to achieve their goals.

The Civil War may have ended the legal right to own slaves on US soil, but it was only the start of the battle for true freedom and equality in the decades to come. By understanding the full story of the movement and its aftermath, you’ll see why the constitutional, economic, and moral questions that arose in the era of abolition are still very much alive today.