Final answer:
The American Anti-Slavery Society was founded in 1833 by William Lloyd Garrison and others who were inspired by British abolitionists and convinced that slavery needed to end immediately. The society grew rapidly and played a crucial role in the abolition movement, promoting moral suasion to appeal to the conscience of Americans .
Step-by-step explanation:
The founders of the American Anti-Slavery Society were individuals who shared a commitment to the abolitionist cause, with William Lloyd Garrison being a notable leader and co-founder. This society was formed in 1833, following the successful model of British abolitionists in their fight against slavery. Garrison was a prominent voice for immediate emancipation through what he called "no moderation" tactics, and his fiery rhetoric exemplified the more radical strain of abolitionist thought. In a notable 1854 rally, he famously denounced the U.S. Constitution for perpetuating slavery. The Society also counted many significant African American abolitionists among its members, such as Frederick Douglass, who leveraged his eloquence and writing to fight for the abolition of slavery.
By the end of the 1830s, the American Anti-Slavery Society had grown tremendously, boasting over 1,300 chapters and nearly 250,000 members. They produced influential publications like The National Anti-Slavery Standard and were instrumental in forming the Liberty Party. Garrisonians, or members of the society, were opposed to the use of violence and the colonization of freed slaves, instead advocating for moral suasion as the method to end slavery and appealing directly to the consciences of the public and slaveholders alike, often through harrowing narratives of slavery's brutality.