Society for the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage
Encyclopedia
The Society for the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage was the first American
abolition
society. It was initially formed April 14, 1775, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
and held four meetings. Seventeen of the 24 men who attended initial meetings of the Society were Quakers. Thomas Paine
was among the Society's founders.
It was reorganized in 1784 as the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery and for the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage, and was incorporated
in 1789. At some point after 1785, Benjamin Franklin
became the organization's president. The society asked him to bring the matter of slavery to the Constitutional Convention
of 1787. He did so in 1790.
It became a model for anti-slavery organizations in other states. Commonly referred to as the Pennsylvania Abolition (or Abolitionist) Society, the group's full name was "The Pennsylvania Society for the Abolition of Slavery, the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage, and the Improvement of the Condition of the African Race."
The Pennsylvania Abolition Society apparently still exists, dedicated to the cause of racial justice, and is thus the oldest abolitionist organization in the nation, if not the world. A Pennsylvania State Historical Marker was placed on Philadelphia's Front Street below Chestnut Street on the Society's re-founding in 1984.
Colonial America
The colonial history of the United States covers the history from the start of European settlement and especially the history of the thirteen colonies of Britain until they declared independence in 1776. In the late 16th century, England, France, Spain and the Netherlands launched major...
abolition
Abolitionism
Abolitionism is a movement to end slavery.In western Europe and the Americas abolitionism was a movement to end the slave trade and set slaves free. At the behest of Dominican priest Bartolomé de las Casas who was shocked at the treatment of natives in the New World, Spain enacted the first...
society. It was initially formed April 14, 1775, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
and held four meetings. Seventeen of the 24 men who attended initial meetings of the Society were Quakers. Thomas Paine
Thomas Paine
Thomas "Tom" Paine was an English author, pamphleteer, radical, inventor, intellectual, revolutionary, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States...
was among the Society's founders.
It was reorganized in 1784 as the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery and for the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage, and was incorporated
Incorporation (business)
Incorporation is the forming of a new corporation . The corporation may be a business, a non-profit organisation, sports club, or a government of a new city or town...
in 1789. At some point after 1785, Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
became the organization's president. The society asked him to bring the matter of slavery to the Constitutional Convention
Philadelphia Convention
The Constitutional Convention took place from May 14 to September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to address problems in governing the United States of America, which had been operating under the Articles of Confederation following independence from...
of 1787. He did so in 1790.
It became a model for anti-slavery organizations in other states. Commonly referred to as the Pennsylvania Abolition (or Abolitionist) Society, the group's full name was "The Pennsylvania Society for the Abolition of Slavery, the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully Held in Bondage, and the Improvement of the Condition of the African Race."
The Pennsylvania Abolition Society apparently still exists, dedicated to the cause of racial justice, and is thus the oldest abolitionist organization in the nation, if not the world. A Pennsylvania State Historical Marker was placed on Philadelphia's Front Street below Chestnut Street on the Society's re-founding in 1984.