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Elijah Lovejoy (November 9, 1802 – November 7, 1837)

 Elijah Lovejoy was met by strict anti-slavery advocates in the south. Brought up under a Reverend in a Christian household, Lovejoy’s childhood and education at the Princeton Theological Seminary led him to strongly oppose slavery. All was well until Lovejoy headed to St. Louis Missouri for a challenging teaching opportunity, where he later became the editor of a Presbyterian newsletter called the St. Louis Observer. In his editorials, Lovejoy expressed his strict anti-slavery ideals, all the while in the heart of the slave state Missouri. Lovejoy was commonly criticized for lacking the ability to compromise or write in moderation, which led him to disagree with every other group that did not have the same aims as him. His original plan for the observer was to bring converts to the Lord on the frontier of sin and worldliness. Elijah Lovejoy was also widely criticized for not backing his anti-slavery ideals concretely. Lovejoy did not want immediate emancipation, but a brief period of transition. He intended for his editorials and other northern abolitionists to win over the hearts of the slaveholders and mold the tough hearts of slave advocated into anti-slavery converts. Although the people of St. Louis thought Lovejoy was trying to promote insurrection, anarchy, and the disseverment of the union, he was only trying to fight for the abolitionist cause.
 * Criticisms **

 Elijah promoted abolition through the brilliant use of a printing press, the first amendment, and determination. Lovejoy used his printing press to create the newspaper, The St. Louis Observer. The newspaper contained many articles highlighting Lovejoy’s anti-slavery ideals and even criticisms of the catholic church. Lovejoy was very successful of getting under the skin of pro slavery citizens. Mobs formed outside his printing press multiple times and burned down his printing press. However, Lovejoy was resilient and defended his first amendment right to freedom of speech. One of his greatest editorials was written in response to violence against his printing press. Perhaps one of Lovejoy’s greater achievements came after the free African American man, Francis McIntosh, was chained to a tree and burned to death without ever having a trial for the suspected murder of a deputy. He stood against mob violence and inspected the constitutionality of execution without trial. Lovejoy was a brilliant abolitionist and constitution advocate of his time. His single greatest achievement was when he lied rest in the warehouse containing his printing press. His death provided inspiration for Abraham Lincoln and the abolitionist cause. Lovejoy inspired many great people to fight for the abolitionist cause and eventually help abolitionists claim victory.
 * Methods of Promoting Reform and Successes **

Elijah Lovejoy’s goal of abolition was mostly practical through his use of the printing press and freedom of speech. The newspaper was where most of the uninformed west received its information. Transportation was improving in America, but the biggest carrier of information was the newspaper. Lovejoy was intending for his newspaper and personal editorials to convert pro-slavery advocates into anti-slavery reformists. The only problems he faced was the stubborn slave advocated. These men cared only about the profit they were making. Slave owners were reaping the economic benefits of slave ownership and hated the aristocratic north for trying to pry slaves out of their hands. Elijah Lovejoy, New England native, was seen as an aristocratic northerner to slave owners. They refused to realize the pain they were causing slaves and neglecting the all men are created equal clause. Although Elijah Lovejoy was trying to turn slave owners from the sins that slavery brought with it, he was simply overlooked because of the economic benefit of slaves.It may have been more practical to apply a Normandie approach to the location of his printing presses, or attempt to tackle more than one location with his abolitionist ideals.
 * Practicality of Goals **

 With federal funds, I would erect multiple printing presses in strategic locations. I would place a printing press in St. Louis, Missouri and crucial states bordering slave states in order to bring rise to the abolitionist cause. My hope would be to spread the anti-slavery movement through the use of the first amendment. I would also ask the employment of federal authorities and law enforcement to defend the printing presses. The advocates of the pro-slavery movement have targeted them in the past and it is crucial that they are well defended in order to protect the spread of knowledge and ideologies they contain to all people. I would also wish for the editorials to be spread throughout the northern states to make notice to all the unpopular deeds of the south. The printing press has the capability of uniting an abolitionist effort and it is crucial that the cause is provided for with strong intentions.
 * How Federal Government Could Advance Goals **

1. Abraham Lincoln- Elijah Lovejoy was a huge supporter of Abraham Lincoln because of his take on the abolitionists movement. In his Lyceum Address, Lincoln highlighted the writings of Lovejoy and even mentioned the case of Francis McIntosh, a person of whom Lovejoy addressed in his writings. Lincoln realized Lovejoy’s devotion to the abolitionist movement and hoped to use it to burn the fire of the movement. 2. Edwin Beecher- He and Elijah Lovejoy helped to plan meetings in Alton, Illinois advocating for freedom of speech. Beecher also helped Lovejoy by putting him in a position to deliver his greatest speech regarding the support of freedom and he Constitution. Together they were crucial to keeping the Observer alive.
 * References **

 "Elijah Parish Lovejoy Biography." Elijah Lovejoy (1802-1837). Illinois State Historical Library, n.d. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. Sources **

Nammari, Nadia. "The Life of Elijah Parish Lovejoy ." Illinois Periodicals Online. Illinois State Library, 7 Dec. 2001. Web. 28 Feb. 2013. Wikipedia contributors. "Abraham Lincoln's Lyceum address." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 13 Dec. 2012. Web. 1 Mar. 2013.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Wikipedia contributors. "Elijah Parish Lovejoy." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 28 Feb. 2013. Web. 1 Mar. 2013.