Arguments of the abolitionists-Economic

• In the 1776 book The Wealth of Nations, the economist Adam Smith argued for the abolition of slavery on economic grounds.
• Smith pointed out that slavery required security, housing and food costs that the use of free labour did not.
• Smith concluded that free workers would be more productive because they would have personal economic incentives to work harder.
• Smith argued that slavery was more expensive because those enslaved worked less well than paid workers.
• Many argued that the slave trade cost jobs that British people could be paid for doing.
• The Industrial Revolution was taking place and new British factories had many vacancies for unemployed people.
• British trade, with its colonies in India and the Far East, was growing rapidly and some argued that Britain should trade with other parts of the world where goods were cheaper.
• Sugar was being produced by free labour in the British colony of India so Britain didn’t need to buy it from the West Indies.