Author Description

The Reform Era in America was one of the most significant and controversial periods in our country’s history. Those who fought for the abolition of slavery risked their reputations, their livelihoods, and their lives in the struggle to eliminate our greatest national injustice—and the racism that spawned it. This is their story as told through the person of Gerrit Smith, a native of Peterboro, New York who worked with countless other abolitionists who were equally devoted to the struggle. The Civil War was the most celebrated expression of the anti-slavery movement, but it came after years of work by the opponents of slavery, many of whom dedicated their lives to the cause of abolition. Whatever It Takes is the story of how they did what they did—and why their work remains unfinished even today.