the assignment

• title

  how important was Thomas Clarkson in helping to achieve abolition of the slave trade?
• in the early eighteenth hundreds, there was an increasing number of people who had begun to think the slave trade slave trade should be abolished, for reasons such as influence of Christian groups (Quakers), awareness of the negative impact on Africa and the awful, inhumane conditions enslaved people experienced through each stage of the slave trade. Thomas Clarkson, an abolitionist, was a big factor in leading to the abolition of the slave trade. However, there were other factors that contributed to the slave trade being abolished, such as William Wilberforce, Olauah Equiano and John Newton.
• The first important factor was Thomas Clarkson in helping to abolish the slave trade. Clarkson interviewed 20,000 sailors who were involved in the slave trade. He visited ports such as Liverpool to collect powerful evidence about the horrors of the slave trade, such as chains and manacles. This was important because Clarkson‘s gathering of evidence highlighted many of the slave trade’s evils.
• However, Thomas Clarkson was distrusted by many as he was seen as a revolutionary.
• Clarkson overall 


  Overall, this factor was the most important because Clarkson toured Britain to share his findings and evidence against the slave trade at public meetings.
• A second important factor was William Wilberforce in helping to abolish the slave trade. Wilberforce was the leader of the abolitionists in parliament. Wilberforce used evidence gathered by abolitionists, such as Clarkson, to try to persuade parliament to support abolition of the slave trade. He also regularly introduced anti-slavery bills in parliament. This was important because Wilberforce’s speeches in parliament convinced many people to support abolition.
• However, it took a very long time - 18 years - of trying to pass anti-slavery bills in parliament for it to be successful which was limiting for the movement’s progression.
• Wilberforce Overall


  overall, this factor was very influential because Wilberforce used his friendship with Prime Minister Pitt to convince others to support abolition of the slave trade.
• A third important factor was Olaudah Equiano in helping to abolish the slave trade. Equiano used his first-hand account of his experiences as a freed slave to persuade many people about the evils of slavery. He was a member of the Sons of Africa, who campaigned against the trade. His was also the only book to be written by an African person telling about his experiences. This was important because his first-hand account of his experiences during the trade persuaded many people that it was immoral.
• However, Equiano had passed away before he could see slavery become abolished, despite his hard work.
• Equiano overall


  Overall, Equiano was really important as he travelled across the country speaking against and informing people about the Slave Trade, which helped to gain great publicity for the abolitionists movement.
• A final important factor was John Newton in helping to abolish the slave trade. John Newton was an eyewitness who had been a slave ship captain, and he campaigned against the trade. His book also helped to provide an eyewitness account of the slave trade from a different perspective. Newton also had a great influence over other abolitionists such as Wilberforce. This was important because Newton’s eyewitness account of the slave trade convinced Wilberforce to stay in parliament and fight for abolition of the slave trade.
• However, by the time abolishment of the slave trade was finally put into place in 1833, Newton had died and therefore never got to see the abolitionist group’s success.
• Newton overall


  overall, this factor was very important because Newton wrote and published pamphlets about the horrific conditions of the slave trade during the middle passage, which appealed to and convinced many to support abolition of the slave trade.
• Clarkson Conclusion 


  In conclusion, the most important reason for the abolition of the slave trade was Thomas Clarkson because he collected a huge amount of evidence against the slave trade which changed people’s minds. He also interviewed 20,000 sailors about the trade.
• Wilberforce conclusion


  William Wilberforce was important because he regularly introduced anti-slavery bills in parliament, influencing many abolitionists and members of parliament, and used evidence gathered by abolitionists to convince others.
• Olaudah Equiano conclusion 


  Olaudah Equiano was also important because he was a Son of Africa and his first-hand account of experiences as a slave persuaded many people about the horrors of slavery.
• John Newton conclusion


  John Newton was the least important because he had an eyewitness account of the trade as a slave ship captain and his campaigning against it induced many to support abolition of the slave trade.