ABSTRACT
On December 28, 1816, the American Society for Colonizing the Free People of Colour, commonly called the American Colonization Society, was organized. During the 1830’s opposition to colonization within the black community increased in intensity David Ruggles became perhaps the foremost spokesman against the scheme. He viewed colonization as the offspring of prejudice and summarized his opposition by declaring that the Colonization Society was in reality the daughter of slavery. Attacks by blacks, however, did not weaken the determination of the American Colonization Society, so thoroughly convinced it was of the correctness of its course. The American Colonization Society was primarily interested in blacks emigrating to Liberia in Africa. Yet one of the most active colonization ventures, not directly associated with that Society, began in 1838. The massive and overwhelming pressure exerted by blacks in opposition to it proved conclusively that no state-sanctioned program of colonization, however benevolent and well-meaning, could ever succeed.
