In May 1854, the capture of the slave Anthony Burns stirred a fierce reaction among Boston's abolitionists and may have inspired Tappan to take personal action following passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act.
The capture of the slave Anthony Burns stirred a fierce reaction among Boston's abolitionists. This was in May 1854. The capture of the slave Anthony Burns may have inspired Tappan to take personal action following passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act. This was in May 1854.