Religious Organizations and Their Role in Challenging Slavery

• Society of Friends (Quakers)

  • First religious organization in the 13 colonies to openly challenge the morality of African slavery.
  • European Protestant denomination, known as Quakers due to their physical reactions during worship (shaking and trembling).
  • Advocated values such as religious tolerance, anti-war pacifism, and the spirit of brotherly love.
  • The capital city of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, translates to "city of brotherly love" in Greek.

• Initial Anti-Slavery Protest

  • The earliest documented anti-slavery protest occurred in Germantown, Pennsylvania, recorded in 1688.
  • Germantown was settled by German and Dutch Quakers.
  • A group of residents opposed to slavery drafted a statement denouncing the ownership and trade of African slaves, particularly criticizing English Quakers for their participation.
  • This document is referred to as the 1688 Germantown Protest.
  • Authored by Francis D. Pastorius, an educated leader in the community.
  • Definitions within the document included:
    • Black Africans regarded as social and spiritual equals.
    • Invoked the Golden Rule: "Treat others as you wish to be treated yourself."
    • Compared the enslavement of Africans to the historic persecution of Quakers in Europe.
    • Accused Pennsylvania Quakers of complicity in theft by purchasing enslaved people.
    • Claimed Quakers would be helpless if enslaved individuals revolted due to their commitment to pacifism.
  • Notable Quote from Pastorius:
    • "Here the colony is liberty of conscience. Here ought to be likewise liberty of ye body, but to bring men hither or to rob and sell them against their will, we stand against."

• Response to Protest

  • The statement alienated English Quakers, who were insulted but ignored it.
  • While Quaker authorities did not respond, this protest inspired further anti-slavery activism among other Quakers.
  • George Keith (1693) published a pamphlet advocating refusal to buy slaves, teaching enslaved individuals to read and write, and emphasizing racial equality through the application of the Golden Rule.

Anti-Slavery Movements in Northern Colonies

• Massachusetts - Samuel Sewall

  • The first person to vocally condemn slavery in this region was Judge Samuel Sewall in 1700.
  • Previously known for his role in the Salem Witch Trials.
  • Owned no slaves personally, but his family members did.
  • Expressed moral conflict in his diary about the slave trade, stating he was dissatisfied with the practice.
  • Provoked to write against slavery due to a public dispute between John Safin, a neighbor, and his black indentured servant named Adam.

• The Selling of Joseph

  • In 1700, Sewall published The Selling of Joseph, a sermon highlighting the immorality of slavery based on biblical principles.
  • Argued against the practice of kidnapping as an atrocious crime.
  • Noted familial ties of the victims and the destruction of lives due to slavery.
  • Refuted the belief in the curse of Ham - used to justify slavery - stating it was not European’s role to enact God's judgment.
  • Ridiculed the argument that slavery could be justified on religious grounds, reasoning that all men are co-heirs and should have equal rights to liberty.
  • While raising awareness, Sewall's writing also contained unconscious racial biases.

• Pro-Slavery Response: John Safin

  • Responded to Sewall with a 16-page document defending slavery.
  • Called Africans deceitful and cowardly, arguing they did not deserve freedom.
  • Used Abraham's slavery to justify the institution, claiming God sanctioned societal hierarchies.

• Case of Adam

  • In 1703, Adam was declared free by a panel including Sewall, showing a modest victory for anti-slavery sentiments in Massachusetts.

The Great Awakening and Its Impact

• Cultural Shift in the 1730s-40s

  • The Great Awakening was a religious revival movement aimed at increasing piety across the colonies.
  • Encouraged emotional and passionate worship, making connections between spirituality and social equality.
  • Protestant churches sent missionaries to recruit members, including enslaved individuals.
  • The movement emphasized spiritual equality, teaching that all souls are equal before God, challenging slavery.
  • Evangelical Revivals
  • Large outdoor tent meetings aimed at inclusive participation across all races and ages.
  • Evangelists spread messages of rebirth and emotional worship, resonating with West Africans’ own spiritual practices.

• Impact on African American Participation

  • Jupiter Hammon: the first African American poet inspired by the Great Awakening, published works reflecting his spiritual journey while enslaved.
  • Notable work: An Evening Thought: Salvation by Christ.
  • Regarded as an intellectual pioneer among African Americans in the colonies.

Quaker Responses and Activism Against Slavery

• Benjamin Lay:

  • Emblematic of radical Quaker activism and known for dramatic anti-slavery protests in Pennsylvania.
  • Refused trade involving slaves, demonstrated against oppressive systems through shocking public performances.
  • Extreme examples:
    • Smashed tobacco pipes to protest the use of slave-produced goods during Quaker meetings.
    • Staged controversial performances using props to symbolize slave suffering.
  • Published works against slavery, labeling it a sin; contributed significantly to anti-slavery dialogue.

• John Woolman:

  • Picked up Lay’s mantle, emphasizing gentle persuasion.
  • Spurred to action after realizing the moral implications of his proximity to slaveholding society.
  • Wrote Some Considerations on the Keeping of Negroes in 1754, advocating against slavery with gentle rhetoric.
  • Published with Quaker authority approval, showing church willingness to confront slavery.
  • Woolman gradually shifted personal practices to align with anti-slavery principles; began arguing for immediate emancipation.

• Anthony Benezet:

  • French immigrant who established Philadelphia's first free African school, promoting education among blacks.
  • Published influential pamphlets aimed at educating Quakers about the horrors of slavery, citing Enlightenment philosophers to urge action.

• Quaker Church’s Influence

  • In 1758, the Quaker church issued a formal resolution against slaveholding practices, excommunicating members who continued to support slavery.
  • Despite progress, those who owned slaves were still permitted to keep them, marking a complex relationship between morality and existing law.