Final answer:
The term used to compare the philosophies of Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison is immediatism. Garrison advocated non-violent moral suasion and complete, immediate emancipation, whereas Douglass emphasized personal narrative, political action, and was open to the use of force.
Step-by-step explanation:
Comparing Abolitionist Philosophies
The term often used to compare the abolitionist philosophies of Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison is immediatism. While both were ardent abolitionists, they had different approaches to achieving their goal. Garrison, as a radical abolitionist and the publisher of The Liberator, advocated for the immediate and complete emancipation of enslaved people. His philosophy was steeped in moral suasion, the idea that slavery should be ended outright due to its moral failings, and he demanded racial equality as a core aspect of abolition. In contrast, Douglass, who escaped slavery and became a leading voice in the abolitionist movement, also supported immediatism but placed a strong emphasis on political action alongside moral persuasion. He believed in the power of his personal story to make the case for emancipation and equal rights.
Initially, Garrison had supported gradual abolition and black colonization, but was influenced by the work of black activists like David Walker and James Forten to change his position to one of immediatism. The key difference in their strategies revolved around Garrisons's commitment to non-violent moral persuasion and Douglass's support for political agitation and the use of force, if necessary, as exemplified by his support of John Brown's raid. Garrison's endorsement of the Grimké sisters, who advocated equal rights for women, caused a division within the abolitionist movement because he included the fight for women's rights as part of the abolitionist agenda, further showcasing his progressive stance on social equality.
Both Garrison and Douglass played pivotal roles in the abolitionist movement and were influential in bringing the issue of slavery to the fore of national conscience in different but complementary ways.