The token is round and metal. On the front of the token, there is an engraving of a man kneeling, in chains. Above his head is the inscription, "Am I not a man and a brother." On the back of the token, there is an inscription that reads, "Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them."
It is 1 1/4 in. x 1 1/4 in. (3.18 cm x 3.18 cm)
When looking at this anti-slavery token, consider the following questions:
- Who was creating these tokens, and why were these people creating them?
- The back of the token quotes a verse from the books of Matthew and Luke in the King James Bible. Why would Quakers quote something from the Bible, and why this verse, in particular?
- How do you think people - abolitionists, enslavers, and people who were enslaved - reacted to this token?
- This token was produced well into the 19th century. Why do you think that is?
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DownloadThis anti-slavery token was first created by British Quakers in 1787 - this token, in particular, was created around 1795 in Great Britian. Tokens like these quickly became popular around Britain and the U.S., and stayed popular in the 18th and 19th centuries. It was the official seal of the Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade. While President, George Washington interacted with many Quaker abolitionists. He was sympathetic to their cause, but thought the way they were advocating was too aggressive.