First antislavery society in the colonies organized in Philadelphia

Historical Context Note

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 3.2.1: American (US) Writing and Culture: The Colonial Period, 1604-1783.
Vol. editors: Emory Elliott (University of California, Riverside), Stephen E. Meats (Pittsburg State University), Scott Slawinski (Western Michigan University)

Domains

Slavery / Anti-slavery/ Enslavement/ Enslaved

Dates

Date of occurrence 1775-04-14

Places

United States (Location)

Resources

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On the 14th of April, 1775 Philadelphia's Quakers founded 'The Society for the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage', the colonies' first anti-slavery society. It would later become known as the 'Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery' (PAS), and in 1787 Benjamin Franklin became its honorary president.

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