The Quakers

Quakers in 17th Century England Origins - A nonconformist movement What did they believe? -Simplicity -Inner revelation -Pacifism Practices

The Peace Testimony Also known as the Testimony Against War What was it? Where was it derived from? Significance?

Quakers in Pennsylvania Penn’s ideal  A pacifist state  A model for the world  A precedent: “All things have their beginnings.” Colonial response  Persecution, imprisonment, & execution

The ‘holy experiment’ Quakers in government  Control of the Assembly  Independence  Successful economy  Western frontiersmen  Tensions

Quakers & Indians Relations with the native Americans  Friendly relations  European & Indians conflicts  Preaching  Increasing atrocities

The failure of the ‘peaceable kingdom’ Why did it fail?  Voted out of govt  Divisions within the ‘peaceable kingdom’  Penn’s absence  Failure to convert Indians and most European colonists  Self-enclosed community  Demands of empire  A small nonviolent island in a sea of brutal colonial rule  Persecution

JOHN WOOLMAN BACKGROUND: -Born Literary works - Journal now considered a classic of English literature -Employment -Minister

BELIEFS ‘The gentle conscience of Quakerism’ Evils of slavery: -Exploitation of labour and oppression of poor -He believed in the equality of humanity -Inconsistent with the Christian religion Good in all others Return to a simple lifestyle - wealth and greed as unnecessary evils

NONVIOLENT ACTION ‘ conduct is more convincing than language’ 1.) Tax Refusal: refusal to pay military tax journey to native colony during time of war 2.) Anti-slavery measures: Journeys throughout colonies - quiet testimony Insisted on payment of slaves Did not push guilt onto slave owners Argued from Quaker tradition and scripture The TRUTH was all important 3.) Other Actions: walking tour protest in England Adopted a plain lifestyle A model of selfless devotion

IMPORTANCE TO THE HISTORY OF NONVIOLENT RESISTANCE Quakers adopted a policy of abolition of slavery Introduced the idea of DIALOGUE ‘Passive Obedience’ Symbolic actions ‘The most significant figure in the early history of non-violence in the North American colonies’ (LYND)