Final answer:
The abolition movement's success was critical to American history, paving the way for the Civil War and the end of slavery with leaders like Abraham Lincoln and the creation of coexistence models. Even with internal disputes, such as those over women's rights, and external opposition, the movement endured, influenced by moral and religious motivations.
Step-by-step explanation:
If the abolition movement had been unsuccessful, the course of American history would have been profoundly different. Without the efforts of immediatists and the broader antislavery movement to shape public opinion, figures like Abraham Lincoln might not have risen to prominence. The Republican Party, which had antislavery undercurrents, gained traction from the groundwork laid by abolitionists. The abolitionist movement also provided a model of interracial coexistence, though not without its internal conflicts and controversies, including disputes over women's rights within the movement. Moreover, the violence and activism in the 1850s escalated tensions, leading to violent confrontations like John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry which signaled the nation was on a path to sectional division and civil war. Despite internal divisions and outside opposition, the movement's dedication persisted, influenced by a strong evangelical moral compass and revivalist Protestantism, playing a crucial role in the eventual fight against slavery in the United States.