The National Era

The National Era was an abolitionist newspaper published weekly in Washington, D.C., from 1847 to 1860.[1] Each number contained four pages of seven columns each.[2] The National Era was noted for its large size and unique type. It featured the works of John Greenleaf Whittier, who served as associate editor,[2] and the first publication, as a serial, of Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin (1851).

Part of a series on
Slavery

The National Era Prospectus stated in 1847:

"While due attention will be paid to Current Events, Congressional Proceedings, General Politics and Literature, the great aim of the paper will be a complete discussion of the Question of Slavery, and an exhibition of the Duties of the Citizen in relation to it; especially will it explain and advocate the leading Principles and Measures of the Liberty Party, seeking to do this, not in the spirit of the Party, but in the love of Truth—not for the triumph of Party, but for the establishment of Truth."[2]

"The Soft Answer"

Two months after the establishment of The National Era, "The Soft Answer" was published on its back page by T.S. Arthur. The short story was based on a business disagreement between two former friends, Mr. Singleton and Mr. Williams, set to be mediated by a Lawyer named Mr. Trueman. After receiving an unacceptable settlement offer from Williams, Singleton prepares an angry reply, only to be dissuaded from sending it by his lawyer. Singleton instead assents to signing a far more tactful and conciliatory reply composed by Trueman.[3]

That tactful and conciliatory reply, which reconciled two former friends, is what is now known as The Soft Answer. That idea suggested a gradualist approach to abolish slavery.

"Changes in the forms of the social organization have always been gradual.... Social reforms are the product of the characters and opinions of the individuals composing a society. Individual influences determine them at first, and they react upon the individual...".[3]

This idea of gradual steps to get two sides to agree is something that many felt that the North and South could use to abolish slavery and integrate the African Americans into society.

gollark: It's amazing how easy it is to *not* waste millions of RF/t somehow.
gollark: The large and small whiteish towers actually have basically nothing in them now.
gollark: My crazily convoluted base so far.
gollark: I'll make an AE2 one if I figure out the fundamental problem of "where in the base does this go?"
gollark: TRAITOR!

See also

References
  1. "About The national era. (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860". National Era. Library of Congress. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  2. "The National Era". African American Newspapers. Accessible Archives, Inc. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  3. Krywicki, Jarad (2013). ""The Soft Answer": The "National Era's" Network of Understanding". American Periodicals. 23 (2): 125–141. JSTOR 24589014.
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