The Quakers: A Case Study

They felt that the brutal criminal punishment was irreconcilable with their Christian beliefs. So in 1786, they persuaded the Pennsylvania legislature to limit the death penalty to murder, treason, rape and arson. It was then that all other criminals would have to be imprisoned for up to ten years. As the population grew and more people where getting sent to prison instead of being executed the prison began to get crowded.

The Puritans and the Quakers are two religious groups that played an important role in the colonization of America. Both of these groups disliked the church of England and sought to gain freedom of worship and lifestyle. Therefore, the Puritans and the Quakers are similar to each other because they both faced persecution and left England to go to America with the goal and hope of living the life they wanted, gain more opportunity, and to practice their desired religion freely.

Equiano sees the Quakers as simple people, good Christians, who have supported minorities, and who have been fundamental in what he calls, “breaking the yoke of slavery.” Not only was a Quaker the one who allowed him to purchase his liberty, but Quakers were the leaders of society in favor of abolition.

Religion was the foundation of the early Colonial American Puritan writings. Many of the early settlements were comprised of men and women who fled Europe in the face of persecution to come to a new land and worship according to their own will. Their beliefs were stalwartly rooted in the fact that God should be involved with all facets of their lives and constantly worshiped. These Puritans writings focused on their religious foundations related to their exodus from Europe and religions role in their life on the new continent. Their literature helped to proselytize the message of God and focused on hard work and strict adherence to religious principles, thus avoiding eternal damnation. These main themes are evident in the writings of

The poems, journals, and sermons by William Bradford, John Winthrop, Anne Bradstreet and Jonathan Edwards displayed these characteristics: the love of something, the courage to do something, the belief in something, and the ability to stand strong and stable in their beliefs. In “Of Plymouth Plantation” the people traveling to find the people on the ship had the love and desire to seek God in everything they did. They believed in God so much they were putting not only their health but lives in jeopardy by traveling so far. “Thus his curses light on his own head, and it was an astonishment to all his fellows for they noted it to be the just hand of God upon him.” Even though they under came harsh conditions they were determined to find a safe

or "Children of Light," they felt that God speaks to their hearts, as some sort of inner light. Because they were said to tremble or quake whenever receiving this inner light, they got the name Quakers.

When we talk about incarceration, and prisons you have to start with the beginning. It all started with The Penitentiary Era, the very beginning of the prison system. The Quakers saw incarceration as a place where the individuals could make good for their wrongs against humanity, and society. The way that the Quakers believed with incarceration in rehabilitation and deterrence, carries over to present day. During the Penitentiary Era the bible was

In prisons today, rehabilitation, deterrence, incapacitation, and retribution are all elements that provide a justice to society. Prisons effectively do their part in seeing that one if not more of these elements are met and successfully done. If it were not for these elements, than what would a prison be good for? It is highly debated upon whether or not these elements are done properly. It is a fact that these are and a fact that throughout the remainder of time these will be a successful part of prison life.

Religion had a big impact in shaping what America is today. Religion still has a big role in modern American society, even with the emergence of Scientific belief systems which would have been condemned in colonial America. Religion has the capability of shaping its follower’s entire lives, countless people lived and died to preserve their spot in the afterlife. One of the key reasons many chose to immigrate to America was for freedom of religion. Religion is the belief of something beyond what is scientifically proven. Many different religious sects moved to America for various reasons. In this essay, we will examine some of the major religious groups of Colonial America and their effect on shaping America.

Benjamin Rush. He was a physician, social reformer, and signatory of the Declaration of Independence. He fought for laws that involved jails and their conditions. He also argued that inmates could be reformed and had different beliefs towards people who committed larger crimes. Penitence in Pennsylvania grew to form the ideas of Benjamin Rush. Walnut Street Jail was operated through the ideas of enlightened humanitarians in Philidelphia named the Quakers. They believed that a new method was needed to help improve and develop felons from Walnut Street Jail. The Quakers did not think that cruelty of punishment would prevent people from committing crimes. The jail would operate based on the religious beliefs of the Quakers who were disgusted with the use of violence. They believed in solitary confinement in which the inmate is isolated from human contact. The prisoners were not allowed to see anyone but prison staff so that they could improve themselves and think about their life. It was also believed that to rehabilitate, one must be able to reflect. Self-reflection requires silence so that the inmate could think about their actions more. Their goal was for prisoners to quit committing crimes and rehabilitate. Since the Quakers were religious, they had the idea that God has a plan for everyone, so everyone deserves equal opportunities and

Despite the fact that both Puritans and Quakers are Protestant Christians, the Quakers were unwelcome in the Puritan society of New England. A University of California at Los Angeles Ph. D. candidate in the Department of History, Carla Gardina Pestana provides an explanation as to why these Christians were frowned upon in the society. In her article “The City upon a Hill under Siege: The Puritan Perception of the Quaker Threat to Massachusetts Bay, 1656-1661”, Pestana gives a detailed analysis of why the Quakers beliefs were seen as a threat to the Puritan society.

Based on the physical evidence found on the tour of Philadelphia, we can draw that colonial Philadelphians valued religion greatly, they had advanced architecture and infrastructure, and they carried out very modest attitudes. Some of the most historical figures came from and benefitted the city of Philadelphia including Benjamin Franklin and Andrew Hamilton.

Many studies about Jehovah Witnesses state that they are the strictest religion out there. They have rules that should be followed or the person ends up condemned. They do not believe in other religions whatsoever, in any shape or form. Jehovah Witnesses God’s name to them is Jehovah. The sociological concepts discussed will be social class and norms, a function and a dysfunction of Jehovah Witness religion, a symbolic ritual, and an aspect of this religion that entails conflict.

The Auburn system focused on production through congregate work and harsh discipline. While the Pennsylvania system focused on repentance through solitary confinement, reading the Bible, and reflecting on one’s sin ( Mays, G. & Winfree, L., 2008)..The key elements in both the Auburn and Pennsylvania systems were solitary confinement and silence. The Pennsylvania system isolated offenders in individual cells. The Auburn system had offenders in cells for a limited part of the day and focused more on production, rather than isolation. The Auburn system won out because it was adaptable and profitable at the same time; whereas, the Pennsylvania system spent more money by building individual cells for isolation. Furthermore, too much isolation led

The Religious Society of Friends, better known as the Quakers, is a Christian society who believes God in is the presence of each and every person. The Religious group was founded in the mid-17th century by George Fox in England. Eventually the group came to America for a better life and religious opportunities.