Final answer:
The political faction that favored the immediate abolition of slavery were the abolitionists, with the Liberty Party being the first to campaign for it. Influential people like William Lloyd Garrison advocated for moral suasion to end slavery, while the Free-Soil and Republican Parties played significant roles in anti-slavery politics.
Step-by-step explanation:
Among the political factions before the American Civil War, the group that favored the immediate abolition of slavery were known as the abolitionists. They stood distinct from others who advocated for gradual or compensated emancipation. The Liberty Party, established in 1840 under the leadership of James G. Birney, was the first political party to promote the abolition of slavery by working within the existing political system. Influential figures such as William Lloyd Garrison, who spearheaded the moral suasion approach, directly influenced public opinion by emphasizing the moral and religious duty to end slavery. However, with the road fraught with entrenched opposition, a shift occurred as many abolitionists saw the necessity to pursue their goal through existing political processes.
Moral suasionists believed that by appealing to the conscience of Americans, they could achieve the immediate abolition of slavery. The Free-Soil Party was committed to preventing the spread of slavery into new states and territories, while the formation of the Republican Party in 1854 further solidified political resistance to the expansion of slavery. The radical faction of the party, which championed immediate abolition, gained momentum and political power, particularly during the Civil War, as exemplified by the immediate abolition of slavery in Maryland and Missouri through new constitutions promoted by radical Unionists. The intensity of the abolitionist fight added to the tensions between the North and South, eventually contributing to the outbreak of the Civil War.