Thaddeus Stevens
Thaddeus Stevens: A Life of Unwavering Principle
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Full Name and Common Aliases
Thaddeus Stevens was born on April 8, 1792, in Danville, Pennsylvania. He is often referred to as the "Vigilance Committee" or "Thunderbolt of the Constitution."
Birth and Death Dates
Born: April 8, 1792
Died: August 11, 1868
Nationality and Profession(s)
Thaddeus Stevens was an American lawyer, politician, and abolitionist. He served as a U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania from 1849 to 1855 and again from 1859 until his death in 1868.
Early Life and Background
Stevens grew up in a humble household with his parents, Joshua and Lydia Stevens. His father was a farmer and a soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War. Thaddeus's early life was marked by hard work and self-education, as he attended school only briefly before returning to help his family on their farm.
As a young man, Stevens worked as a clerk in a general store and later became a lawyer after completing his education through apprenticeship. He began practicing law in Pennsylvania in the 1810s, quickly gaining a reputation for his strong convictions and unwavering commitment to social justice.
Major Accomplishments
Stevens's most notable achievement was his role as a leading figure in the Radical Republicans during the Civil War era. He advocated tirelessly for the abolition of slavery and equal rights for African Americans. His efforts led to several key pieces of legislation, including:
The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which abolished slavery
The Freedmen's Bureau Act, which provided assistance to freed slaves
Stevens also played a crucial role in the impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson in 1868.
Notable Works or Actions
Some of Stevens's most notable works and actions include:
His involvement in the Underground Railroad, helping hundreds of enslaved individuals escape to freedom
His advocacy for women's suffrage, arguing that women should have the right to vote
* His leadership in the Radical Republicans' efforts to pass legislation protecting the rights of African Americans
Impact and Legacy
Thaddeus Stevens's impact on American history is immeasurable. He fought tirelessly for social justice and equality throughout his life, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire advocates for human rights today.
His unwavering commitment to principle often put him at odds with those in power, but he remained steadfast in his convictions until the end of his life. Stevens's legacy serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of standing up for what is right, even when it is difficult or unpopular.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Thaddeus Stevens is widely quoted and remembered today because of his unwavering commitment to principle and his tireless advocacy for social justice. His quotes often highlight the importance of standing up against injustice and fighting for what is right, even when it is difficult.
As a leading figure in the Radical Republicans, Stevens's words and actions continue to inspire advocates for human rights around the world. His legacy serves as a powerful reminder that individuals can make a difference by standing up for what they believe in, no matter how unpopular or challenging it may be.
Quotes by Thaddeus Stevens
There can be no fanatics in the cause of genuine liberty. Fanaticism is excessive zeal. There may be, and have been fanatics in false religion – in the bloody religions of the heathen.
I can never acknowledge the right of slavery. I will bow down to no deity however worshipped by professing Christians - however dignified by the name of the Goddess of Liberty, whose footstool is the crushed necks of the groaning millions, and who rejoices in the resoundings of the tyrant's lash, and the cries of his tortured victims.
I don’t hold with equality in all things only with equality before the law and nothing more.
No government can be free that does not allow all its citizens to participate in the formation and execution of her laws.
The greatest measure of the nineteenth century was passed by corruption, aided and abetted by the purest man in America.
I will be satisfied if my epitaph shall be written thus: 'Here lies one who never rose to any eminence, who only courted the low ambition to have it said that he striven to ameliorate the condition of the poor, the lowly, the downtrodden of every race and language and color.'
The whole fabric of southern society must be changed, and never can it be done if this opportunity is lost. Without this, this government can never be, as it never has been, a true republic.
I wished that I were the owner of every southern slave, that I might cast off the shackles from their limbs, and witness the rapture which would excite them in the first dance of their freedom.
There can be no fanatics in the cause of genuine liberty. Fanaticism is excessive zeal. There may be, and have been fanatics in false religion - in the bloody religions of the heathen.
