“The Anti-Slavery Alphabet” by Merrihew and Thompson was first printed in 1847 during the anti-slavery movement in the United States. It was created as a children’s publication to teach children that slavery was wrong and should be abolished.

The goal of the piece was to create a way to help change the way children viewed slavery in order to help guide the path toward ultimately eliminating it. The publicists did a great job of targeting an audience specifically to children.  The children needed to be targeted in order to help put an end to slavery. By getting young people talking and thinking about the subject of slavery and how wrong it is then society can eventually begin to change.  The hope was that as the young grow and learn and see all the wrongdoing they can begin to put an end to slavery. Even though this publication might not have had the same impact that Uncle Tom’s Cabin had years later, it still would leave an impression on children at the time.

The perfect example of this method lies at the end of the alphabet.

“Z is a Zealous man, sincere,

Faithful, and just, and true;

An earnest pleader for the slave- Will you not be so too?”

After teaching the kids about the horrors of slavery they tell about someone brave fixing what is unjust and then demonstrating that a certain type of person needs to fix this travesty. Then they ask if the reader is that person. It is a terrific method used in order to help change the children’s view and make them realize that slavery needs to be ended.

By combining poetry and the alphabet the publication gauges the child’s attention so they are interested in reading the piece. This style makes the reading fun and easy for the children, at the same time plants the idea that slavery is wrong in their young minds, and that it needs abolished. Changing the minds of the younger generations assists in shifting society views and helps to move the United States towards the end of slavery.