| Organization name | Society of Friends |
| Org type | Religious group |
| Bio notes | The Religious Society of Friends was founded in England in the mid-17th century by George Fox, a young man who preached across Britain, Northern Europe, and the Barbadoes. The movement quickly grew, but because of persecution from the established Anglican Church, many Quakers sought the economic opportunities and religious toleration of the Pennsylvania and Rhode Island colonies in America. Quakers were distinguished by their belief in the priesthood of all believers, refusal to wage war, emphasis on direct religious experience, and striving to "bear witness" throughout the course of everyday life. This scrupulosity greatly influenced William Penn's dealings with the Indians in Pennsylvania, as he systematically bought land rights from all tribes concerned and occasionally purchased the same tract multiple times. For this reason, Penn earned the friendly Indian nickname “Onas,” and Quakers in general gained an early reputation for honesty and fairmindedness among the Native Americans. In the late 18th century, American yearly meetings formed Indian Committees specifically to aid Indian Tribes in maneuvering land claims and learning western agricultural skills, which they continued to work into the 19th century. |
| Citations | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quakers;https://www.britannica.com/topic/Society-of-Friends;https://www.jstor.org/stable/985436?seq=4#page_scan_tab_contents |
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