Outrage and Disappointment: Many blacks expressed outrage and disappointment that their freedom could be tied to the compensation of slave owners. They saw this as a perpetuation of the very system that had enslaved them and deprived them of their dignity.
Petitions and Protests: Black leaders and communities organized petitions, protests, and public meetings to express their opposition to the plan for compensated emancipation. They demanded immediate emancipation without any compensation for slave owners.
Underground Railroad: The Underground Railroad, a network of secret routes and safe houses, continued to operate to help enslaved individuals escape to freedom, even after the plan for compensated emancipation was proposed. This was a way for black people to take matters into their own hands and seek freedom outside of the proposed plan.
Frederick Douglass' Criticism: Frederick Douglass, a prominent abolitionist and former enslaved person, was one of the most vocal critics of the compensated emancipation plan. He argued that it would only benefit the slave owners and prolong the dehumanization of black people.
Call for Immediate Emancipation: Black activists and leaders, such as Frederick Douglass, Martin Delany, and Sojourner Truth, emphasized the need for immediate and uncompensated emancipation. They argued that black people had labored for generations without compensation, and they deserved freedom without any further conditions.
Political Agitation: Black activists engaged in political agitation and sought to gain representation in government to advocate for their rights. They formed organizations like the National Equal Rights League to push for equal rights and justice, including uncompensated emancipation.
