Narrative of Riots at Alton

E90585

Narrative of Riots at Alton is a 19th-century account documenting the violent pro-slavery mob attacks in Alton, Illinois, particularly the murder of abolitionist Elijah P. Lovejoy and the destruction of his printing press.


Statements (38)
Predicate Object
instanceOf 19th-century non-fiction work
book
historical account
associatedWith Elijah P. Lovejoy
abolitionist press
pro-slavery mobs in Illinois
countryOfOrigin United States
describesEvent attacks on abolitionist printing presses in Alton
killing of Elijah P. Lovejoy
pro-slavery mob attacks in Alton
documentType contemporary report
eyewitness account
genre abolitionist literature
political history
historicalContext conflict between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions
early American abolitionist movement
historicalUse primary source for historians of abolitionism
primary source for historians of press freedom in the U.S.
language English
mainSubject destruction of abolitionist printing presses
murder of Elijah P. Lovejoy
pro-slavery mob violence
riots in Alton, Illinois
medium print
placeDescribed Alton, Illinois
portraysAs Elijah P. Lovejoy as a martyr for free press
purpose to defend freedom of the press
to document mob violence against abolitionists
settingLocation Mississippi River town of Alton
significance important source on early abolitionist struggles in Illinois
important source on the death of Elijah P. Lovejoy
timePeriodDescribed 1830s
antebellum United States
topic abolitionism
civil liberties
freedom of the press
mob violence
slavery in the United States

Referenced by (1)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Edward Beecher
notableWork

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