Wendell Phillips was one of the leading reformers in favor of the abolition of slavery and was known as a passionate abolitionist willing to risk his own future to defend the cause in which he firmly believed. He was born on November 29, 1811, the son of a wealthy Boston family. Having attended the famous Boston Latin School as a child, he later graduated from Harvard Law School in 1834. Phillips did not consider himself a reformer until the Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society, where he heard from William Lloyd Garrison talk. He eventually became secretary of the Anti-Slavery group. Phillips supported the abolition of slavery. He believed America should end slavery once and for all. He was particularly critical of the Constitution's compromises on slavery as well as the limitations placed on abolitionists in seeking political action. Furthermore, he believed that the emancipation of slaves was the primary obligation of government, even more vital than the preservation of the Union. Not only did he defend the freedom of slaves, but he also championed black suffrage and equal rights for African Americans, women, and Native Americans, as well as the rights of workers and wage earners. For the most part, Phillips was a peaceful reformer, but in the 1850s he became a radical. During the 1840s he regularly attended conventions such as the World Anti-Slavery Convention in London, which advocated freedom for slaves. In the years leading up to the Civil War, he became more aggressive, with events like the Harpers Ferry Raid subsidizing his presence as a radical leader. However, after the war he again became a more passive reformer, serving as a lecturer and public speaker. He made a strong case for the middle of paper. African Americans are not slaves, they are citizens, voters, and have the same rights in school as any other ethnicity in the United States today. So he not only paved the way for African Americans, but for everyone. Additionally, the labor reforms he supported, notably the minimum wage, which were unsatisfactory, came later and are still in place today. Likewise, his advocacy for women's right to vote eventually became part of the Constitution with the 19th Amendment. Society as a whole benefited greatly from Wendell Phillips' reforms for equality across all classes. In a way, he was ahead of his time in believing that everyone had equal opportunities, regardless of race, class, or gender, but just because they were human beings. . He wanted the world to change, so he decided to take a stand and leave his career and life behind to make a real difference in society..