Pacifism
Anti War Movement
Background
Pacifism originated from the ideas that war and violence were morally incorrect. Many religions are associated with pacifism, such as the Quakers. Many of these religions believed that violence contradicted their beliefs. Many came to America to get away from the violence in a "new start", which is why pacifism greatly increased after the war of 1812.
Important Pacifists
David Low Dodge
- American Pacifist from Connecticut
- In 1815, he established the New York Peace Society. (The first peace society in the US.)
- Later, peace societies formed in other states combined with the NY peace society, to form the American Peace Society.
William Ladd
- American anti war activist (Pacifist) from New Hampshire.
- Helped combine the various peace societies into the American Peace Society.
- First president of The American Peace Society.
- In 1840, he published An Essay on the Congress of Nations. Which was a plan for "World Congress and Court of Nations". It was an idea similar to league of nations, which was established many years later.
Henry David Thoreau
- American "Anarcho-Pacifist" who believed nonviolence was the way to achieve a stateless, self governing country.
- Opposed the Mexican-American war. Believed it should be solved through non violent acts.
- Was asked to pay a state tax to advance the cause of slavery and go to war.
- Refused to pay a tax collector because of his war opposition, which enabled him to write an essay on civil disobedience. His essay affected the lives of many.
- He encouraged people to stand up to laws, or taxes, that helped persuade people to participate in unjust violence, no matter the cause.
Goals and Tactics of the Movement
Pacifism was a movement that stressed the opposition to war and violence. It encouraged people to solve conflicts in a peaceful way, rather than resorting to war. Pacifists often peacefully protested their opposition to violence in hopes of persuading others to join. The American Peace society was formed for this reason.
After the war of 1812, many people were upset with the war, and the consequences that arose from it. They formed these peace societies to come up with alternative methods of solving conflict. Also, they used peace societies to inform people of the pacifist movement, in hopes of getting new people to join.
Major Achievements
The pacifist movement caused people to question the morality of war, and decide whether or not it was okay to take over other countries. They also wondered to what extent war should be avoided. If war was necessary to end inhumane acts, such as slavery, should it still be avoided.
Because of these ideals, policies were set for war. They set policies for countries remaining neutral, the treatment of prisoners, and placed arm limitations.
The pacifists caused many to believe that compromise was a viable alternative to war, and in some cases proved to work well.
Religious attitudes to pacifism