abolitionist campaigns

Cards (14)

  • 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