Freedom, Enslavement and Resistance

Moral suasion

Gradual emancipation through legislation

Direct action and immediate change

Appealing to enslavers' sense of justice

Radical resistance sought gradual change, while moral suasion demanded immediate action.

Radical resistance involved direct action and justified violence, while moral suasion relied on persuasion.

Radical resistance focused on economic solutions, while moral suasion focused on political solutions.

Radical resistance aimed to collaborate with enslavers, while moral suasion aimed to overthrow them.

Because it was too rapid and confrontational.

Because it placed the burden on the enslaved to prove their humanity and was too slow given the urgency of slavery.

Because it involved violent tactics that were counterproductive.

Because it focused on economic solutions rather than moral arguments.

Writing letters to politicians.

Filing lawsuits against enslavers.

Organizing revolts and armed resistance.

Appealing to religious leaders for support.

Because it was the only way to gain political power.

Because it was a way to economically cripple enslavers.

Because the brutality of slavery justified a forceful, immediate reaction.

Because it was a way to gain international support for their cause.

Whether violence would alienate potential allies.

Whether violence was morally justifiable given the inherent violence of slavery.

Whether violence would lead to harsher treatment of enslaved people.

All of the above.

To provide economic analysis of the slave trade.

To persuade enslavers to change their ways.

To expose the horrors of slavery and inspire resistance.

To promote gradual emancipation through legal means.

By presenting statistical data on the economic costs of slavery.

By offering graphic firsthand accounts to show the true cost of bondage.

By appealing to the religious beliefs of enslavers.

By advocating for gradual integration into American society.

To encourage enslaved people to accept their fate.

To persuade enslavers to gradually improve conditions for the enslaved.

To shock readers and spark outrage, embolden the enslaved to fight for their freedom, and spread radical ideas.

To provide a historical account of the origins of slavery.

Physical violence

Economic exploitation

Ignorance

Political disenfranchisement