The Founding Fathers (or Founders) of the United States were (a) prag

The Founding Fathers (or Founders) of the United States were

(a) pragmatic reformers, eager to assault slavery whenever political realities permitted.
(b) skittish abolitionists, cautiously promoting antislavery under particular circumstances.
(c) anti-abolitionists, permitting slaves to be freed only when they would reap a great advantage from emancipation.
(d) not concerned with slavery, because for centuries humankind failed to recognize it as a problem.

ANSWER

(b)