Final answer:
Militant abolitionists inspired some people and shocked others due to their radical approach and use of moral arguments to advocate for the immediate elimination of slavery.
Step-by-step explanation:
The movement, notably led by figures such as William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglass, called for the immediate emancipation of slaves, challenging both the institution of slavery and the complicit societal structures of the era.
They employed a tactic known as moral suasion to appeal to the Christian conscience of Americans, publicizing the atrocities of slavery and advocating for a society premised upon equality.
However, this approach encountered fierce opposition by most Americans who feared disunion and the threat it posed to social and racial hierarchies.
This opposition was often violent, as demonstrated through mobs attacking abolitionist printing presses and leaders. Moreover, women's involvement in the movement and the interracial nature of abolitionism made it particularly contentious.
By the 1850s, some abolitionists, disillusioned by previous reform efforts, began engaging in more direct forms of resistance, including violence. John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry exemplified this shift and highlighted the growing tensions between the abolitionist movement and American society. As the nation moved closer to civil war, the polarized response to abolitionism underscored the depth of the country's divisions over slavery.