Abolition of the Slave Trade

This final page examines the methods used by abolitionists to end the slave trade, the arguments for and against abolition, and the reasons for its eventual success.

Methods Used by Abolitionists

Abolitionists employed various strategies to campaign against the slave trade:

• William Wilberforce gave powerful speeches in Parliament.
• Olaudah Equiano published his influential autobiography.
• Thomas Clarkson gathered evidence and conducted tours of Britain.
• Campaigners organized sugar boycotts.
• Multiple bills were introduced in Parliament.

Quote: William Wilberforce famously stated, "So enormous, so dreadful, so irremediable did the trade's wickedness appear that my own mind was completely made up for abolition."

Reasons For and Against Abolition

Arguments for abolition included:

• Religious and moral objections to slavery
• The cruelty and inhumanity of the trade
• The destruction of African societies
• Risks to sailors involved in the trade

Arguments against abolition included:

• The trade's importance in funding wars with France
• Its role in maintaining naval strength
• The wealth it brought to Britain
• The employment it provided
• Racist beliefs about African inferiority

Reasons for Eventual Abolition

The slave trade was eventually abolished in Britain in 1807 due to:

• Persistent campaigns by abolitionists
• Increased public awareness and changing attitudes
• The tireless efforts of William Wilberforce
• Growing trade with India as an alternative to Caribbean colonies
• Pressure from religious groups
• The impact of the Industrial Revolution

Highlight: The abolition of the slave trade in 1807 marked a significant turning point, though full emancipation for enslaved people in British colonies did not come until 1833.

Britain's Involvement in the Transatlantic Slave Trade

The Transatlantic slave trade was a complex system that forcibly transported millions of Africans to the Americas over several centuries. This page examines the key reasons for British involvement and the features of the triangular trade route.

Reasons for British Involvement

There were three main causes that drove Britain's participation in the slave trade:

1. Profitability - The trade in human beings was extremely lucrative for British merchants and investors.

2. Growing demand for sugar - As sugar became increasingly popular in Europe, there was a need for more labor on Caribbean plantations.

3. Workers accustomed to harsh conditions - Africans were seen as better suited to plantation work than Native Americans or Europeans.

Highlight: The 3 main causes of slavery in the British context were economic profit, increased sugar demand, and the perceived suitability of African laborers.

Features of the Triangular Trade

The slave trade operated as a triangular route with three main legs:

1. Outward Passage - Ships left Britain carrying guns, cloth, and other goods to trade in Africa.

2. Middle Passage - Enslaved Africans were transported across the Atlantic to the Americas.

3. Home Passage - Ships returned to Britain laden with sugar, tobacco, and other colonial goods.

Example: The Middle Passage typically took 6-8 weeks, with around 12% of captives dying during the brutal journey.

Vocabulary: Slave factories were fortified trading posts on the African coast where captured people were held before transport.