Abolitionist Movement

• Religious Arguments - The Quakers

  • Argued all people were equal in the eyes of God, so slavery shouldn't exist
  • Produced many books and leaflets on why slavery should end
• Economic Arguments - Sugar Production

  • Sugar could be produced elsewhere in the world, and much cheaper, this also meant less need for slaves
• Economic Arguments - Industrial Revolution

  • New businesses being set up with new machinery over men, so less need for slaves
• Growing Awareness

  • As towns and cities grew, this led to more awareness of political issues
• John Newton

  • Once slave ship captain - fell ill on a slave ship and prayed God to save him, this was the turning point in his life
  • Admitted to flogging, using thumbscrews, and torturing slaves
• William Wilberforce

  • Campaigned for 20 years
  • Had support of the PM - William Pitt the Younger
  • Wilberforce, during every year between 1789 and 1806, presented Parliament a bill to end slavery
• Olaudah Equiano

  • Former slave
  • Published his autobiography, which became a best-seller and changed many people's views of the slave trade
• Josiah Wedgewood

  • Designed a seal promoting the Abolitionist Movement to be put on his pottery;
  • This seal showed an African on his knees saying, "Am I not a man and a brother?"