Talk:Quakers in the abolition movement

Christianity: Quakers Stub‑class Low‑importance

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I'm a little confused by the introduction, it was always my understanding that Quakers were the founders of Abolitionism, not just that they "played a significant part". The Wikipedia article on Abolitionism confirms this, so why is this article stating a different premise? EyePhoenix (talk) 07:54, 24 February 2012 (UTC)[reply]

I added the paragraph on Quaker opposition to the abolitionist movement. While it is true that some Quakers were abolitionists, they were sharply criticized by other Quakers. I felt that the article gave readers the misleading impression that most Quakers were abolitionists. As Jordan explains in Slavery and the Meetinghouse: The Quakers and the Abolitionist Dilemma, 1820-1865, most Quakers believed that their individual dislike of slavery should be a "quiet" belief but not in any way used to support a social movement against the institution. Thus, the answer to EyePhoenix above is that it would be incorrect to say that "Quakers were the founders of Abolitionism." Quakers were very divided on slavery (not so divided on the slave trade). Individual Quakers were among the founders of Abolitionism. The Religious Society of Friends took no position on the institution of slavery.