Disciplines
European History
Abstract (300 words maximum)
The earliest records of Britain’s involvement in the slave trade date back to as early as 1562, however it was only towards the early nineteenth century that faith was publicly used as a reason to denounce slavery. Benjamin Lay, belonging to the religious Quakers or Society of Friends often goes overlooked when studying the subject of abolition in Britain, however his relentless efforts may have had a monumental impact in bringing about this change, despite numerous and some rather uncanny attempts to silence him. This essay aims to inquire the reasoning behind Benjamin Lay being disowned by the Quakers twice in England, as they would later agree with his sentiments, and when and why there was a shift in how he was received in both America and Britain, leading to Britain's abolition of the slave trade. Research will be gathered through various materials including primary and secondary source documents, analyzing the changes and continuities of Benjamin Lay's reception in Britain. These findings will allow us to better identify how religious and moral relationships correlate with one another regarding abolition, and understand how those who speak out against unjust acts within religion willingly tread a path that has the potential of altering one's life negatively despite feeling just in doing so, through analyzing Quaker reception of Benjamin Lay over a course of time.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
RCHSS - History & Philosophy
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Amy Dunagin
Included in
Quaker Reception of Benjamin Lay
The earliest records of Britain’s involvement in the slave trade date back to as early as 1562, however it was only towards the early nineteenth century that faith was publicly used as a reason to denounce slavery. Benjamin Lay, belonging to the religious Quakers or Society of Friends often goes overlooked when studying the subject of abolition in Britain, however his relentless efforts may have had a monumental impact in bringing about this change, despite numerous and some rather uncanny attempts to silence him. This essay aims to inquire the reasoning behind Benjamin Lay being disowned by the Quakers twice in England, as they would later agree with his sentiments, and when and why there was a shift in how he was received in both America and Britain, leading to Britain's abolition of the slave trade. Research will be gathered through various materials including primary and secondary source documents, analyzing the changes and continuities of Benjamin Lay's reception in Britain. These findings will allow us to better identify how religious and moral relationships correlate with one another regarding abolition, and understand how those who speak out against unjust acts within religion willingly tread a path that has the potential of altering one's life negatively despite feeling just in doing so, through analyzing Quaker reception of Benjamin Lay over a course of time.