Corresponding societies began to appear in Britain in the late 18th century as part of a movement for political reform which sought to increase the number of people holding the right to vote. They aimed to engage the public in issues of parliamentary reform through publishing and distributing democratic propaganda and through educational programmes including public meetings, itinerant speakers and discussions.

The societies addressed many of the political issues of the day as part of a wider debate on civil society, political rights, the political nation and public sphere. This Universal Suffrage Corresponding Society membership card of 1797 addresses the topical issue of slavery. In the background a white man leads a black man away from his wife and child. In the foreground three white figures express their consternation: ‘O Heavens! Can Christians Traffic in human Blood?’, ‘Tremble Tyrants! Shiver to Atoms the Chains of Despotism’, ‘O Liberty! O my Country’.