The term abolishment may seem quite synonymous but its importance is etched within the very fiber of history itself. If anything, the term itself has been used to mark the most important times when throngs of individuals got the chance to earn back their freedom. But before we get into any intimate details, let’s kick things off with the definition of the term abolishment:
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What’s the definition of the term abolishment?
The term abolishment is best described in layman terms as the act of stopping something, most harmful. For instance, the abolishment of the slave trade in the early 19th century brought a lot of hope for humanity. Abolishment almost always comes in the form of a new law but can also be done on a personal basis. For instance, an individual can decide to put a stop to bad behavior, etc.
Are there any significant historical moments that utilized the term abolishment?
As I mentioned earlier, there are so many instances in history where abolishment took place. The most famous abolition movement came in during slavery. The Atlantic Slave Trade had seen millions of Africans caught and enslaved for well over four hundred years. The abolition movement not only put an end to the slave trade but also strived to free the slaves in Europe, the Americas, and most importantly, the rest of the world.
What fueled the abolition movement was the Somersett Case that took place in 1772 which saw a slave freed due to the simple fact that slavery didn’t exist under English common and thus deeming it illegal. The Quakers were very vocal about the distasteful nature of slavery and began pushing for immediate change.
France beat Europe to the abolition movement as theirs began back in 1315 under the stewardship of one Louis X who was the King of France at the time. He passed a decree that any slave who set foot on French soil was automatically freed. Unfortunately, the slave trade continued under the cover of darkness even though the authorities did their absolute best to end it.
In 1571, a Norman slave merchant was arrested trying to sell slaves in a black market in Bordeaux. He was arrested immediately and the slaves were granted freedom with immediate effect. The latter went to show just how serious the French government was about putting an end to slavery.
Slavery aside, another form of abolishment came in the early 20th century that saw the invalidation of marijuana. Before the decree, people used marijuana either for recreational or medicinal purposes. But after research, it was found that marijuana had dangerously high levels of THC which meant it was a dangerous hallucinate and narcotic.
It was only a century later that the government are considering the legalization. But that’ll still take a while before it comes to fruition.
Are there any synonyms and antonyms of the word abolishment?
As I mentioned earlier, the term ‘abolish’ happens to be quite common. The latter is the main reason why the word comes with its fair share of synonyms as well as antonyms. Some of the synonyms of abolishment include the following: voiding, rescindment, repeal, quashing, nullification, negation, invalidation, dissolution, defeasance, cancelation, avoidance, annulment, abrogation, and abatement, etc.
Abolishment also has its fair share of antonyms. Some of the antonyms include the following: prescription, ordering, mandating, decreeing, commandment, sanctioning, permission, endorsement, clearance, authorization, approval, ratification, passing, validation, legitimization, legalization, enactment, founding, legislation, formalization, just to mention a few.
What does the urban dictionary say about abolishment?
The term ‘abolish’ has also found its way to the urban dictionary, which isn’t that surprising at all. One of the most famous usages of the term is ‘abolish all nicks’. It can be used as a chant to go against people who are for a movement that’s seen as oppressive or pro-system.
Another usage of the term abolish comes in the form of ‘abolish alcohol august’. The latter is a movement that aims at helping alcoholics cure their addiction by going the entire month of august without touching alcohol.
Who are the most notable abolitionists in recent history?
The abolishment movement has seen its fair share of champions over the centuries. The first one in recorded history was none other than Louis X, the King of France back in the 14th century. The decree he passed freed so many, including Thomas-Alexandre Dumas who tasted freedom in 1776 when his father brought him into France. Slavery was brought back briefly by Napoleon in 1802 but was later banished.
In Europe, a lot of men came through for the abolishment movement. Most of these brave men and women included James Oglethorpe, Granville Sharp, Hannah More, William Wilberforce of the Clapham Sect, just to mention a few. The movement wasn’t without its fair share of struggles, but in the end, the goal was achieved. Brazil was the last country to abolish the slave trade.
