Quaker Act

The Quaker Act of 1662 was a piece of legislation in the United Kingdom that targeted the Society of Friends, commonly known as Quakers. This act was part of a broader period of persecution against Quakers following the Restoration of Charles II in 1660.1

Quakers, who emerged during the Puritan Revolution, emphasized a direct, personal relationship with God, often disregarding established religious practices and authorities. Their beliefs and practices, such as refusing to swear oaths, not attending the Church of England services, and gathering for their own meetings, led to them being hounded by penal laws. The Quaker Act of 1662 was one such law that contributed to the suffering of approximately 15,000 Friends, with nearly 500 dying in or after imprisonment. This period of persecution lasted until 1686, when de facto toleration was established, followed by de jure toleration in 1689 with the Toleration Act.1