Throughout American history people have fought for causes in which they believe; one of these major causes was the emancipation of all black slaves within the United States. During the mid 1800s two of the greatest abolitionists emerged; Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison. Both of these men lived during the same time period and grew up in hard conditions. However, both of these men overcame their hardships through the strength of their morals and became successful abolitionists. Although different in background and beliefs, William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglass were two of the key abolitionists of the mid 1800's
             William Lloyd Garrison was a man who grew up under the care of only his mother, after his father left them early on in William's life. Through all of the time spent with his mother, Garrison inherited many of her traits. (Lilley, 36) William's early life in Massachusetts was unlike many other children's because of his fathers heavy drinking, which caused his mother, Fanny, to work hard just to make sure that her children would not inherit any of their father's weaknesses. (36) Unfortunately William had problems with money, which was scarce around the house; however, he finally found happiness working in a newspaper. This eventually helped lead him to create an abolitionist paper known as "The Liberator". In this paper he expressed many of the views that he acquired from another great abolitionist Benjamin Lundy. (Lilley, 37) Garrison also had obtained many of his views against slavery listening to the British Parliament's debates on slavery in the West Indies (Lilley, 37). He was so intent on getting is point across that in the very first printing of the Liberator he said:
             "I do not wish to think, or speak, or write, with moderation. . . . I am in earnest -- I will not equivocate -- I will not excuse -- I will not retreat a single inch -- AND I WILL BE HEA...