A Consequential Education: Anti-Slavery Activism at Gettysburg College

Class Year

2025

Document Type

Digital Project

Date of Creation

Summer 2025

Department 1

Civil War Institute

Abstract

College campuses have historically existed as spaces of political activity. The academic environment of a college campus encourages students to question the status quo, propose new ideas, and critically engage with the political issues of the day. Gettysburg College, originally known as Pennsylvania College, was no exception. Throughout the antebellum era, the campus became embroiled in the national debate over slavery. Students argued with each other about slavery’s immorality. Professors publicly spoke out against slavery and founded local abolitionist organizations. From the janitorial staff to the Board of Trustees to an entire fraternity, members of the campus community risked imprisonment to help escaped slaves on the Underground Railroad. And when the Civil War raged across their campus, Pennsylvania College students fought to determine whether the institution of slavery would persist. The College’s geographic position between the North and the South allowed for northern students to confront slavery and for southern students to be exposed to opposing ideas in a unique way not possible on most other campuses. Their consequential years at the College prepared students to take action against the injustices of slavery.

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Funded by the Kolbe Research Fellowship

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