Theodore Dwight Weld

The liberty party was formed in 1840 by a group of abolitionists. It was created by two men, Arthur Tappan and Theodore Weld, in opposition to William Lloyd Garrison who believed that political action was a way to end slavery. The first party convention was in 1840. In 1844, the party influenced undecided legislators in many local elections to adopt antislavery stands. The party ended in 1848 when many of its members joined a group called the Barn burners.