Quakers Led Early Abolition Efforts
Anthony Benezet and fellow Quakers advocated for abolition beginning with the 1688 Germantown Protest. Such views faced intense social opposition at the time. By 1776, Philadelphia’s Yearly Meeting had banned members from owning slaves completely. Their numerous pamphlets influenced global anti-slavery movements, especially in Britain. Quakers’ consistent moral opposition established an important religious counterpoint to pro-slavery denominations. Their witness helped keep abolitionist ideas alive during periods when they were deeply unpopular and sometimes dangerous to express.
