Anthony Benezet Anthony Benezet moved to at age 17 in 1731 after living in , Holland, and England. He became a Quaker and a teacher in America. In 1750, he taught African-American children, both free and enslaved, at night in his own home. Four years later, he began the first public school for girls in America and even created a special program for a deaf and mute student. Benezet believed in universal equality and was a prominent abolitionist. He is considered the father of the American anti- movement and created the first abolition society in Philadelphia in 1776. He also studied African literature and The Quaker Meeting, Cox-Parrish-Wharton family respected African culture in general. papers [0154]

Who was Anthony Benezet? What opinions did he have and why?

Braithwaite, William Charles. The Message and Mission of Quakerism. Philadelphia: J.C. Winston, 1912. [E .46994]

Tomek, Beverly C. Colonization and its Discontents: emancipation, emigration, and antislavery in antebellum . New York: New York University Press, 2011. [E 449 .T66 2011]

On what issues did Benezet take a stand? How and why did he take them?

Thompson Family papers [0654]

Report of the committee of ways and means, to whom was referred on the sixteenth of December 1806, the petition of Anthony Benezet and others, December 31, 1806: read, and referred to a committee of the whole... [Td*1807]

Anthony Benezet and the natural rights of the Negro [Va .6 v.96]

Elizabeth Drinker diary [1760]

Questions to consider: How did Anthony Benezet’s views and actions differ from those of others during his time? What motivated Benezet? Did he motivate anyone else to take a stand?