The Society for the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage was the first American abolition society. It was founded April 14, 1775, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and held four meetings.[1] Seventeen of the 24 men who attended initial meetings of the Society were Quakers, that is, members of the Religious Society of Friends, a branch of Christianity notable in the early history of Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania Abolition Society Historical Marker at S. Front near Walnut Sts. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
It was reorganized in 1784[2] as the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery and for the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage,[3] (better known as the Pennsylvania Abolition Society) and was incorporated in 1789.
At some point after 1785, Benjamin Franklin was elected as the organization's president. The society asked him to bring the matter of slavery to the Constitutional Convention of 1787. He petitioned the U.S Congress in 1790 to ban slavery.[4][5]
The Pennsylvania Abolition (or Abolitionist) Society, which had members and leaders of both races, became a model for anti-slavery organizations in other states during the antebellum years. Prominent African-American members included Robert Purvis, who was admitted in 1842 as the Society's first Black member. [6]
In 1984 when the Society was revived, a Pennsylvania State Historical Marker was placed on Philadelphia's Front Street below Chestnut Street, at the site of its original offices.[7]
The Pennsylvania Abolition Society still exists, dedicated to the cause of combating racism. The oldest abolitionist organization in the United States, since the late twentieth century, it has worked to improve issues of criminal justice and the over-representation of African Americans in prison, reduction in harsh sentencing laws, and improving economic and environmental justice.
^"Founding of Pennsylvania Abolition Society". Africans in America. PBS.
^"Abolition, Anti-Slavery, and The Underground Railroad". Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
^"Constitution of the Pennsylvania Abolition Society". The Abolition of The Slave Trade. New York Public Library.
^"Benjamin Franklin Petitions Congress". National Archives and Records Administration. August 15, 2016.
^Franklin, Benjamin (February 3, 1790). . Archived from the original on May 21, 2006. Retrieved May 21, 2006.
^"Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia | Abolitionism".
^"Pennsylvania Abolition Society Historical Marker". Pennsylvania Abolition Historical Society Marker. from the original on November 15, 2011. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
External linksedit
Pennsylvania Abolition Society web site
Pennsylvania Abolition Society papers from the Historical Society of Pennsylvania
February 15, 2024
pennsylvania, abolition, society, society, relief, free, negroes, unlawfully, held, bondage, first, american, abolition, society, founded, april, 1775, philadelphia, pennsylvania, held, four, meetings, seventeen, attended, initial, meetings, society, were, qua. The Society for the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage was the first American abolition society It was founded April 14 1775 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania and held four meetings 1 Seventeen of the 24 men who attended initial meetings of the Society were Quakers that is members of the Religious Society of Friends a branch of Christianity notable in the early history of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Abolition Society Historical Marker at S Front near Walnut Sts Philadelphia PennsylvaniaIt was reorganized in 1784 2 as the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery and for the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage 3 better known as the Pennsylvania Abolition Society and was incorporated in 1789 At some point after 1785 Benjamin Franklin was elected as the organization s president The society asked him to bring the matter of slavery to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 He petitioned the U S Congress in 1790 to ban slavery 4 5 The Pennsylvania Abolition or Abolitionist Society which had members and leaders of both races became a model for anti slavery organizations in other states during the antebellum years Prominent African American members included Robert Purvis who was admitted in 1842 as the Society s first Black member 6 In 1984 when the Society was revived a Pennsylvania State Historical Marker was placed on Philadelphia s Front Street below Chestnut Street at the site of its original offices 7 The Pennsylvania Abolition Society still exists dedicated to the cause of combating racism The oldest abolitionist organization in the United States since the late twentieth century it has worked to improve issues of criminal justice and the over representation of African Americans in prison reduction in harsh sentencing laws and improving economic and environmental justice See also edit nbsp Pennsylvania portalAbolition of slavery timeline Anthony Benezet John Woolman Thomas Paine Benjamin Rush Benjamin Lundy John Greenleaf Whittier Frances Harper Pennsylvania Anti Slavery Society Abby Davis MunroReferences edit Founding of Pennsylvania Abolition Society Africans in America PBS Abolition Anti Slavery and The Underground Railroad Historical Society of Pennsylvania Constitution of the Pennsylvania Abolition Society The Abolition of The Slave Trade New York Public Library Benjamin Franklin Petitions Congress National Archives and Records Administration August 15 2016 Franklin Benjamin February 3 1790 Petition from the Pennsylvania Society for the Abolition of Slavery Archived from the original on May 21 2006 Retrieved May 21 2006 Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia Abolitionism Pennsylvania Abolition Society Historical Marker Pennsylvania Abolition Historical Society Marker Archived from the original on November 15 2011 Retrieved December 14 2012 External links editPennsylvania Abolition Society web site Pennsylvania Abolition Society papers from the Historical Society of Pennsylvania Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pennsylvania Abolition Society amp oldid 1196442384, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
