Final answer:
Abolitionist writers aimed to end slavery through shared purpose, methods, and moral suasion, using mass communication to spread their message, and evolving from persuasion to direct action and international support networks over time.
Step-by-step explanation:
Abolitionist Writers' Shared Purpose, Approach, and Methods
The abolitionist writers of the nineteenth century were united by a common purpose of ending slavery. Their approaches often involved using moral suasion, a tactic that relied on appealing to the conscience of individuals and the nation to bring about abolition through non-coercive means. Abolitionists like Frederick Douglass and Sojourner Truth utilized dramatic narratives and personal accounts to expose the horrors of slavery and instigate change.
Utilizing mass communication technologies of the time, such as steam-powered printing, abolitionists disseminated pamphlets, newspapers, and broadsides widely. They leveraged the United States Postal Service to send materials directly to slaveholders and organized the "Great Petition Campaign" to pressure Congress. The movement's tactics evolved from moral persuasion to more confrontational methods, including supporting runaway slaves and forming international antislavery networks.
Ultimately, the role of abolitionists extended beyond writing and speaking, as they also established churches, schools, and antislavery societies, often cooperating with pre-existing organizations of black activists. Their efforts spurred societal change and helped foster environments that challenged the prevalent racism of the period, which they termed "color phobia."