Pennsylvania Hall (Philadelphia)
Encyclopedia
Pennsylvania Hall was a 19th century abolitionist meeting place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
.
In the years prior to the building of the Hall, the city's African American population had grown substantially as freed
and fugitive slave
s began to unite with the city's substantial Quaker
population in the struggle to end slavery.
Periodic outbreaks of racial, ethnic and religious violence were common for nearly 15 years, culminating in 1842s Lombard Street Riot
. It was in the midst of this turmoil that the Hall was to be built.
The Hall was originally built by the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society
in 1838, emblazoned with the motto "Virtue, Liberty and Independence", and hailed as "one of the most commodious and splendid buildings in the city." To finance construction a joint-stock company was created. Two thousand people bought $20 shares, raising over $40,000. Others donated material and labor.
At the dedication ceremony, letters from Gerrit Smith
, Theodore Weld, and John Quincy Adams
were read. Former president Adams' letter read, in part
By the following day, though, detractors had blanketed the city with notices addressed to "citizens who entertain a proper respect for the right of property," asking them to "interfere, forcibly if they must, and prevent the violation of these pledges (the preservation of the Constitution of the United States), heretofore held sacred."
That morning, the Anti-Slavery Convention of American Women
met in the Hall. By the third day, though, a growing group of men began to gather at the building, "prowling about the doors, examining the gas-pipes, and talking in an 'incendiary' manner to groups which they collected around them in the street."
That evening, William Lloyd Garrison
introduced Maria Weston Chapman
to an audience of 3,000 abolitionists. The mob outside grew violent smashing windows and breaking into the meeting. Despite the turmoil, Angelina Grimké Weld convinced the audience to stay with an hour long speech. To protect their more vulnerable members, the group of whites and blacks left the gathering arm in arm, through a hail of rocks and jeers.
Despite orders from the city's mayor to restrict the following day's meeting to white women only, the Anti-Slavery Convention of American Women met again, in full. Fearing for their safety, the hired managers of the building gave the Hall's keys to the mayor, who promptly locked the doors and announced that all further meetings had been cancelled.
The mob soon broke into the building and set fires. Though the mayor returned with the police, they were unwilling or unable to restore order. By 9 pm, the building was engulfed in flames. Arriving firefighters did nothing to save the Hall, spraying water on only surrounding buildings. One unit of firefighters did attempt to spray the Hall, only to become targets of the other units hoses. Three days after its opening, the Hall had been destroyed. Over the following days, the mob continued their assault, destroying a black orphans' shelter and heavily damaging a black church.
In the end, the city's official report blamed the fire and riots on the abolitionists, saying they had upset the citizens by encouraging "race mixing" and inciting violence.
The original structure stood for a mere three days before being burned to the ground by anti-black rioters on May 18, 1838. Despite the brevity of its existence, the Hall was frequently cited by various racial, ethnic and religious groups throughout the city as an argument for their claimed right to defend their properties through armed force.
Today, a state historical marker stands at the original location, on 6th Street immediately south of Race Street in Philadelphia.
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
In the years prior to the building of the Hall, the city's African American population had grown substantially as freed
Freeman (Colonial)
Freeman is a term which originated in 12th century Europe and is common as an English or American Colonial expression in Puritan times. In the Bay Colony, a man had to be a member of the Church to be a freeman. In Colonial Plymouth, a man did not need to be a member of the Church, but he had to be...
and fugitive slave
Fugitive slave
In the history of slavery in the United States, "fugitive slaves" were slaves who had escaped from their master to travel to a place where slavery was banned or illegal. Many went to northern territories including Pennsylvania and Massachusetts until the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 was passed...
s began to unite with the city's substantial Quaker
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
population in the struggle to end slavery.
Periodic outbreaks of racial, ethnic and religious violence were common for nearly 15 years, culminating in 1842s Lombard Street Riot
Lombard Street Riot
The Lombard Street Riot, sometimes called the Abolition Riots was a three-day race riot in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1842. The riot was the last in a 13-year period marked by frequent racial attacks in the city...
. It was in the midst of this turmoil that the Hall was to be built.
The Hall was originally built by the Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society
Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society
The Pennsylvania Anti-Slavery Society was established in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by James and Lucretia Mott in 1833.At the time, Pennsylvania was an openly racist state, withdrawing blacks' voting rights in 1838....
in 1838, emblazoned with the motto "Virtue, Liberty and Independence", and hailed as "one of the most commodious and splendid buildings in the city." To finance construction a joint-stock company was created. Two thousand people bought $20 shares, raising over $40,000. Others donated material and labor.
At the dedication ceremony, letters from Gerrit Smith
Gerrit Smith
Gerrit Smith was a leading United States social reformer, abolitionist, politician, and philanthropist...
, Theodore Weld, and John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams was the sixth President of the United States . He served as an American diplomat, Senator, and Congressional representative. He was a member of the Federalist, Democratic-Republican, National Republican, and later Anti-Masonic and Whig parties. Adams was the son of former...
were read. Former president Adams' letter read, in part
I learnt with great satisfaction. . . that the Pennsylvania Hall Association have erected a large building in your city, wherein liberty and equality of civil rights can be freely discussed, and the evils of slavery fearlessly portrayed. . . . I rejoice that , in the city of Philadelphia, the friends of free discussion have erected a Hall for its unrestrained exercise.
By the following day, though, detractors had blanketed the city with notices addressed to "citizens who entertain a proper respect for the right of property," asking them to "interfere, forcibly if they must, and prevent the violation of these pledges (the preservation of the Constitution of the United States), heretofore held sacred."
That morning, the Anti-Slavery Convention of American Women
Anti-Slavery Convention of American Women
The first battle or discussion of American Women happened on May 9, 1837. Approximately 200 women gathered in New York City to discuss their role in the American abolition movement. Mary S. Parker was the President of the gathering. Other prominent women went on to be vocal members of the Women's...
met in the Hall. By the third day, though, a growing group of men began to gather at the building, "prowling about the doors, examining the gas-pipes, and talking in an 'incendiary' manner to groups which they collected around them in the street."
That evening, William Lloyd Garrison
William Lloyd Garrison
William Lloyd Garrison was a prominent American abolitionist, journalist, and social reformer. He is best known as the editor of the abolitionist newspaper The Liberator, and as one of the founders of the American Anti-Slavery Society, he promoted "immediate emancipation" of slaves in the United...
introduced Maria Weston Chapman
Maria Weston Chapman
Maria Weston or Maria Weston Chapman was an American abolitionist. She was elected to the executive committee of the American Anti-Slavery Society in 1839 and from 1839 until 1842, she served as editor of the anti-slavery journal, Non-Resistant.-Family:Weston was born in 1806 in Weymouth,...
to an audience of 3,000 abolitionists. The mob outside grew violent smashing windows and breaking into the meeting. Despite the turmoil, Angelina Grimké Weld convinced the audience to stay with an hour long speech. To protect their more vulnerable members, the group of whites and blacks left the gathering arm in arm, through a hail of rocks and jeers.
Despite orders from the city's mayor to restrict the following day's meeting to white women only, the Anti-Slavery Convention of American Women met again, in full. Fearing for their safety, the hired managers of the building gave the Hall's keys to the mayor, who promptly locked the doors and announced that all further meetings had been cancelled.
The mob soon broke into the building and set fires. Though the mayor returned with the police, they were unwilling or unable to restore order. By 9 pm, the building was engulfed in flames. Arriving firefighters did nothing to save the Hall, spraying water on only surrounding buildings. One unit of firefighters did attempt to spray the Hall, only to become targets of the other units hoses. Three days after its opening, the Hall had been destroyed. Over the following days, the mob continued their assault, destroying a black orphans' shelter and heavily damaging a black church.
In the end, the city's official report blamed the fire and riots on the abolitionists, saying they had upset the citizens by encouraging "race mixing" and inciting violence.
The original structure stood for a mere three days before being burned to the ground by anti-black rioters on May 18, 1838. Despite the brevity of its existence, the Hall was frequently cited by various racial, ethnic and religious groups throughout the city as an argument for their claimed right to defend their properties through armed force.
Today, a state historical marker stands at the original location, on 6th Street immediately south of Race Street in Philadelphia.
See also
- Philadelphia Nativist RiotsPhiladelphia Nativist RiotsThe Philadelphia Nativist Riots were a series of riots that took place between May 6 and 8 and July 6 and 7, 1844, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, and the adjacent districts of Kensington and Southwark...