Who is john whittier

Your talents, zeal, influence — all are needed. Churches, colleges and courts were all against the Abolitionists, who were considered dangerous members of society. Many stated that the Abolitionists preached anarchy in the name of humanity. Whittier, trained to quiet activism, nonresistance, and respect for law, and skilled in feeling the pulse of public opinion, knew perfectly well what company he was keeping.

To be an active abolitionist was to join the outcasts. The cause was dangerous. See this site on his poetry for details. Garrison thereafter published a Whittier poem every week in this newspaper. His poetry was prolific during this time. Poetry for Teens. Lesson Plans. Resources for Teachers. Academy of American Poets. American Poets Magazine.

Poets Search more than 3, biographies of contemporary and classic poets. John Greenleaf Whittier — Related Poets. Mina Loy. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Oliver Wendell Holmes. William Cullen Bryant. James Russell Lowell. Academy of American Poets Educator Newsletter. Teach This Poem. Garrison encouraged him to continue his schooling, and Whittier attended Haverhill Academy on and off for two years.

For a time he also taught school. Meanwhile, his poems were being published in local newspapers. Between and Whittier edited various journals, including the abolitionist Pennsylvania Freeman In he served in the Massachusetts Legislature. With his vigorous antislavery essay Justice and Expediency , Whittier firmly committed himself to the abolitionist cause.

He was well aware of his limitations as a poet; his was poetry in service of a cause, a poetry, often, of declamation. Poor health caused Whittier to curtail his editorial duties, but he was able to serve as contributing editor from to of the abolitionist journal National Era.