Origins of the Abolition of the Slave Trade

AIM:

• To identify the factors that explain why Britain eventually abolished the slave trade.

Success Criteria:• You can identify four factors explaining the

origins of the abolition campaign.

Key Word: AbolitionTo put an end to a particular activity i.e. slavery

• In 1807 the slave trade was abolished by the British parliament. It became illegal to buy and sell slaves , but people could still own them.

• In 1833 Parliament abolished slavery itself, making it illegal to own slaves in Britain and throughout the British Empire.

• Why did this happen when the slave trade and the plantations in the West Indies seemed to be making so much money?

Historians have argued about several aspects of the abolition of the slave trade, why it took so long and why the campaign

was eventually successful.

The main reason for the abolition of the slave trade was economic.

Britain no longer needed the slave trade.

The main reason for the abolition of the slave trade was economic.

Britain no longer needed the slave trade.

While the abolitionist movement was not a

one-man band, much of the credit goes to

Wilberforce.

While the abolitionist movement was not a

one-man band, much of the credit goes to

Wilberforce.I’m quite cynical about why

Parliament abolished the slave trade. I think it was an act of

war, or at least a way of winning a war.

I’m quite cynical about why Parliament abolished the slave trade. I think it was an act of

war, or at least a way of winning a war.

The revival in religion was the main reason for ending the slave trade.

• For most of the 18th century few people questioned the nature of the slave trade, the lives of working people in Britain were hard enough and few gave much thought to African slaves.

• However, very slowly, opinions began to change. • Many people began to believe it was wrong to

own another human being.• At a time when there was no mass media or fast

communications, the problem was how to get large numbers of people to support the abolitionist campaign.

Video Clip

Watch the Video Clip and answer the following questions:

• Why would it be surprising that Britain would turn away from the slave trade?

• What factors does Mara identify in the origins of the abolition of the slave trade?

• Who or what was the major stumbling block to abolishing the trade?