abolitionist campaigns

• 1781: The Zong incident publicised
• Arguments agains:

  Humanitarian beliefs

  
  

  Religous beliefs

  
  

  Economic
• Humanitarian arguments:

  
  

  Wrong for one human to own another

  
  

  Slave trade caused war in Africa

  
  

  Cruel condition on the Middle Passage
• Religious arguments:

  Slave trade went againts God’s will

  
  

  Bible sayd God is against slavery
• William Wilberforce:

  
  

  Involved from religous belief
• Economic arguments:

  Goods were cheaper elsewhere

  Slave trade cost jobs

  
  

  Britains should be paid for the work slaves were doing

  
  

  Slavery was expensive
• How did they campaign:

  
  

  Anti-slavery groups - books, newspapers & pamphlets

  
  

  Public meetings with former slaves

  
  

  Church services

  
  

  Signed petitions

  
  

  William Wilberforce tried to introduce laws to ban it (passed in 1807)
• How did they campaign:

  
  

  Sugar boycotting

  
  

  Josiah Wedgewood - ‘Am I not a man and a brother?’

  
  

  Sons of Africa - travelled around UK campaigning

  
  

  Granville Sharp - helped slaves gain freedom

  
  

  Thomas Clarkson - Publicised slave conditions for evidence

  
  

  1787 - Society For the Abolition formed
• Frederick Douglass & Olaudah Equiano:

  
  

  Former slaves

  
  

  William Wilberforce:

  
  

  MP That campaigned for 20 years

  
  

  Thomas Clarkson:

  
  

  Quaker that formed society for the abolition

  
  

  John Newton:

  
  

  Former slave ship captain that wrote Amazing Grace

  
  

  Hannah More:

  
  

  Teacher that became a writer
• 1807 abolition act:

  
  

  Made it illegal for any British citizens to take part in the slave trade - did not abolish slavery

  
  

  Abolitionist movement: 40 years to end trade

  
  

  30 years before slaves given freedom
• Successful abolition

  • Public opinion - interest in religion made people think of the wrongs of the slave trade
  • Economic circumstances - sugar boycotts caused financial harm for businesses
• Successful abolition

  • Parliamentary debate - William Wilberforce kept the case of abolition in parliament for years
  • Legislation - slave trade abdished in 1807. Slavery made illegal in the British empire in 1834
• so long:

  
  

  the slave trade brought wealth to Britain, so was popular with those who were wealthy

  
  

  the slave trade brought employment to Britain so was supported by many involved in these industries
• so long:

  
  

  involvement in the slave trade helped Britain to remain a world power, so many continued to support slavery

  
  

  the slave trade was seen as a valuable training ground for the Royal Navy, so it was supported

  
  

  many MPs had financial interests in the slave trade, so wished to see it continue