A Caution to Great Britain and Her Colonies

The pamphlet was written by Anthony Benezet, a prominent French-born educator and abolitionist living in Philadelphia. He was one of the most influential early voices against the institution of slavery in North America.

The tract aimed to awaken the British public and its colonies to the moral injustices of the transatlantic slave trade. Benezet meticulously detailed the horrific conditions and human suffering involved in the trafficking of African people.

Published in 1767, the pamphlet served as foundational reading material for early abolitionists in both America and Britain. It was widely circulated and heavily influenced prominent figures like John Wesley, who later wrote his own anti-slavery tracts.

Benezet drew upon historical accounts, economic theories, and his own Quaker religious beliefs to condemn the practice. He frequently cited firsthand accounts and documentation from individuals involved in the slave trade.