What is Garrison's stance on gradual abolition and why does he recant it?
Garrison initially supported the idea of gradual abolition of slavery. He believed that a slow and steady approach to emancipation would be more practical and acceptable to slave owners and the general public. Garrison thought that the immediate emancipation of all slaves would generate too much resistance and lead to social and economic chaos.
However, over time, Garrison's views on gradual abolition changed. He started to believe that any compromise on the issue of slavery was morally wrong. He became convinced that slaveholders would never willingly give up their property and that the institution of slavery was so inherently unjust that it had to be abolished immediately and without any delay.
Garrison's shift in stance was influenced by various factors, including his close association with other prominent abolitionists such as Frederick Douglass and his own growing understanding of the brutal realities of slavery. As he witnessed and learned about the suffering endured by enslaved individuals, he became increasingly firm in his belief that slavery needed to be eradicated as soon as possible.