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Probably the first U.S. abolitionist was [[Samuel Sewall]], who published [http://www.masshist.org/objects/transcription.cfm?transcriptDir=masshist&transcript=sewall1492.xml&queryID=57 The Selling of Joseph: A Memorial] in Boston in 1700.  However, the first abolition organization formed in the United States was the Pennsylvania Abolition Society, originally known as the Society for the "Relief for Free Negroes unlawfully held in Bondage", in 1775.<ref>http://www.hsp.org/default.aspx?id=634</ref>.

Probably the first U.S. abolitionist was [[Samuel Sewall]], who published [http://www.masshist.org/objects/transcription.cfm?transcriptDir=masshist&transcript=sewall1492.xml&queryID=57 The Selling of Joseph: A Memorial] in Boston in 1700.  However, the first abolition organization formed in the United States was the Pennsylvania Abolition Society, originally known as the Society for the "Relief for Free Negroes unlawfully held in Bondage", in 1775.<ref>http://www.hsp.org/default.aspx?id=634</ref>.

During the early 1800's, organizations such as these created the [[Underground Railroad]], a loosely organized system for secretly transporting a few hundred slaves into Canada.

Runaway slaves sometimes used safe houses on their way to Caanda; a few hundred made it there.  From this reality emerged much exaggerated stories about an [[Underground Railroad]].  

The American abolitionist movement was transformed by [[William Lloyd Garrison]] and reached its peak 1840-1850. The movement had little to do with the actual abolition of slavery, which was a war measure carried out by [[Abraham Lincoln]] and the Republican Party in 1862-65. The forces that were lined up for the continuation of slavery were strong and numerous; the abolitionists were few in number and had no political power before 1860 but were guided by a strong religious belief and the moral need to right a horrible wrong.

The American abolitionist movement was transformed by [[William Lloyd Garrison]] and reached its peak 1840-1850. The movement had little to do with the actual abolition of slavery, which was a war measure carried out by [[Abraham Lincoln]] and the Republican Party in 1862-65. The forces that were lined up for the continuation of slavery were strong and numerous; the abolitionists were few in number and had no political power before 1860 but were guided by a strong religious belief and the moral need to right a horrible wrong.