Final answer:
To abolish slavery was to end the practice completely, while emancipation referred to the freeing of slaves. This idea was radical at the time because it was against the economic and social norms, particularly in the American South. Abolitionists like William Lloyd Garrison, and political actions like the Emancipation Proclamation by Abraham Lincoln and later the Radical Republicans, were central to the eventual end of slavery in the U.S.
Step-by-step explanation:
To Emancipate Slaves and Abolish Slavery
Abolishing slavery meant to end the practice of treating people as property and was often associated with the advocacy for the immediate emancipation of slaves. Emancipation refers to the process of freeing slaves, which was a central issue during the American Civil War. The idea was radical during its time because slavery was deeply woven into the economic and social fabric of societies, particularly in the Southern United States.
Abolitionists and the Emancipation Proclamation
Abolitionists like William Lloyd Garrison took a radical stand against slavery, advocating for immediate emancipation without compensation to slaveholders. Their approach differed from earlier, more conservative views that suggested gradual or conditional emancipation. Abraham Lincoln initially favored a milder approach of colonization but eventually issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which sought to free Southern slaves and weaken the Confederacy's war effort, although it didn't immediately end slavery everywhere.
Impact of Radical Abolitionism
Radical abolitionism was pivotal for the eventual abolition of slavery as it challenged the status quo and pushed for a moral awakening against the institution. Their efforts, combined with the hard stances of the Radical Republicans and the Civil War itself, eventually led to the Thirteenth Amendment, which formally abolished slavery in the United States.