Which religious group contributed to the start of the abolitionist movement?

The religious group that significantly contributed to the start of the abolitionist movement were the Quakers, or the Religious Society of Friends. The Quakers believed that all people are equal in the eyes of God, which led them to take a strong stance against slavery, which they saw as morally reprehensible. Some of the earliest formal anti-slavery sentiments were expressed by Quakers in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. By the time of the American Revolution, Quakers were among the first to take organized action against slavery and the slave trade, and they remained at the forefront of the abolitionist movement into the 19th century.

Extra: Abolitionism was a movement to end the practice of slavery and the slave trade. It gained momentum in the late 18th century and was especially prominent in the United Kingdom and the United States. The movement featured a diverse range of supporters, including religious and secular, black and white individuals. Many groups contributed to the movement, but the Quakers were among the earliest to organize efforts towards emancipation. A fundamental Quaker belief is in the inner light, or "that of God in everyone," which drove their view that slavery was incompatible with Christian teaching.

In addition to the Quakers, other religious groups such as the Methodists and Baptists also played roles in the abolitionist movement, and there was considerable religious motivation among many activists. Individuals like William Wilberforce in the UK and William Lloyd Garrison in the US were motivated by their faith to campaign for the end of slavery. The abolitionist movement was not only a call to legally end slavery but also a moral campaign to sway public opinion and instill a recognition of the injustice and inhumanity of the institution of slavery.