What was a common reaction in the South to the publication of "The Liberator"?

The publication of "The Liberator" by William Lloyd Garrison elicited a strong and often hostile reaction in the Southern states due to its vehement anti-slavery stance. Garrison was unapologetically critical of slavery and advocated for its immediate abolition, which threatened the entrenched social and economic systems of the South that relied on enslaved labor.

In response, many Southerners viewed Garrison as a significant adversary. This led to extreme actions, including the issuance of bounties on his head as a form of intimidation and a way to discourage abolitionist sentiments. The South was concerned that Garrison’s writings would incite rebellion among enslaved people or encourage more Northern abolitionists to interfere with their way of life. Such a reaction underscores the fierce defense of slavery prevalent in the South at the time and highlights the deep divisions in pre-Civil War America regarding issues of race and human rights.

The other reactions, such as support for abolition or increased circulation in the South, were not prevalent, as the Southern population largely rejected Garrison's views. Indifference, while possible among some individuals, does not account for the widespread fear and anger that his publication provoked.