alternatehistory.com

Hi all - This is a thought that I have been working on for some time and it really boggles me.
Basically, WI the abolitionists of America opted for a different stratagy in their drive to end slavery?
IOTL, they thought nothing of helping slaves to escape via an Underground Railway or arming them to forment insurrection. Unfortunately the slaveowners saw this as breaking the law, either theft of property or inciting rebellion.
So, What If the abolitionists take a different tack and decide to work within the law to help end slavery.
With a PoD that starts at the birth of the nation itself, some abolitionist leaders like Franklin and others of his time decide that instead of stealing the slaves from their masters, they should buy them. Thus, they send slave buyers down to the south to attend auctions and buy as many of the children and women as possible. Once bought they are removed north where they are put up in either foster homes or educational facilities to be taught a trade, skill or profession. They would then give one-half of their earnings for a set period of time to the abolitionists to further purchase (rescue?) more of their brethern and bring them to freedom.
If these purchases were made quietly, at least at first so the slaveowners didn't get wind of their plan (and raise the cost of the slaves), could it work at all, work to a degree, or would it fall flat?
Or were most or the abolitionists simply long on talk about how the other half should live and short on the gravitas to get it done? :confused:
Top