Final answer:
The Society of Friends, or Quakers, began in England during the 1640s and embraced beliefs in personal religious experiences, social equality, racial and gender equality, and the abolition of slavery.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Society of Friends, also known as Quakers, began in England during the 1640s. Led by George Fox, they rejected the hierarchy and authority of the Church of England and emphasized personal religious experiences. By the mid-1660s, the Quakers numbered about eighty thousand and most of their members worked as small farmers, traders, and shopkeepers. They held beliefs in social equality, racial and gender equality, and were one of the first groups to advocate for the abolition of slavery in America.