(2) The Slave Trade and Literature of Abolition

Who was John Newton?

an English Anglican clergyman and former slave ship captain who became a prominent Christian minister and abolitionist.

What Jobs did Newton have?

he was a captain of a slave ship, participating in the transatlantic slave trade.

What brings Newton into this conversation about slavery/abolition

- This person worked as a captain in the transatlantic slave trade, witnessing the inhumane conditions and suffering of enslaved individuals firsthand. This experience created a profound internal conflict within him.
- This person's conversion to Christianity began during a harrowing storm at sea in 1748. This event led him to reassess his life choices, including his involvement in the slave trade. His newfound faith prompted a moral reckoning.

Positions Newton took:

-This person was a vocal advocate for the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. He believed it was morally reprehensible and incompatible with Christian teachings. He emphasized the moral responsibility of Christians to act against injustice. Newton often preached about the need for compassion and love towards all people, including those enslaved.
- This person actively supported the abolitionist movement in England, aligning himself with key figures like William Wilberforce. He provided encouragement and advice to those working to end slavery.

Who was Thomas Clarkson?

- A prominent English abolitionist and a key figure in the movement to abolish the transatlantic slave trade. His work played a crucial role in raising awareness about the horrors of slavery and mobilizing public opinion against it.

Jobs Clarkson had:

- This person studied to become a clergyman at St. John's College, Cambridge, but he never pursued a full-time career in the church.
- His early work included writing an essay on the slave trade, which led to extensive research and documentation about the inhumane practices associated with slavery.

What brings Clarkson into this conversation about slavery/abolition:

- This person was deeply troubled by the moral implications of slavery. His strong sense of justice and compassion led him to believe that the trade was fundamentally wrong and needed to be addressed.
- His journey began in 1785 when he entered an essay contest at Cambridge University on the topic of slavery. This research exposed him to the horrific realities of the transatlantic slave trade and ignited his passion for abolition.
- After starting his research, this person met individuals who had been enslaved and heard their harrowing stories. These firsthand accounts further fueled his determination to advocate for change.

Positions Clarkson took:

- This person championed the need for public awareness regarding the realities of slavery. He argued that educating the public about the brutality of the slave trade was essential for garnering support for abolition.
- He supported the voices of formerly enslaved individuals, believing that their testimonies were crucial in highlighting the horrors of slavery and swaying public opinion.
- This person was active in lobbying Parliament and working with lawmakers, including William Wilberforce, to push for legislation that would abolish the slave trade.

Who was William Cowper?

an English poet and hymn writer known for his profound influence on both literature and religious thought.

Jobs Cowper had:

- After studying at Westminster School and then at St. Edmund Hall, Oxford, Cowper trained as a lawyer and became a clerk in the legal profession. He worked in the office of a solicitor in London for several years.
- This person's most significant role was as a poet. He gained fame for his literary works, including his long poem The Task and various shorter poems that addressed themes of nature, faith, and human experience.

What brings Cowper into this conversation about slavery/abolition:

- This person was a strong advocate against the slave trade and used his poetry to express his opposition to slavery. His friendship with John Newton helped shape his views on social justice.

Positions Cowper took:

- This person was a devout Christian whose faith deeply influenced his poetry and writings.
- He believed in the importance of personal faith and the power of divine grace.
-This person was a strong advocate against the transatlantic slave trade.
- His writings often expressed moral outrage at the injustices of slavery, aligning with the abolitionist movement.

Who was Olaudah Equiano?

- a prominent African writer, abolitionist, and former enslaved person whose autobiography played a crucial role in the abolitionist movement in Britain.

Jobs Equaino had:

- This person was captured and sold into slavery, working in various capacities, including as a domestic servant and ship's servant.
- He worked as a groom for a naval officer and gained experience in maritime trades, which provided him with valuable skills and knowledge of the sea.
- After purchasing his freedom, this person became a merchant. He was involved in trade and made several voyages, which helped him establish connections and gain financial independence.

What brings Equiano into this conversation about slavery/abolition:

- This person's own experiences as an enslaved person provided him with a unique and powerful perspective on the brutality of the slave trade.
- His firsthand accounts of capture, enslavement, and the Middle Passage were instrumental in illustrating the horrors of slavery. After gaining his freedom, this person became an active abolitionist.
- He worked alongside prominent figures like Granville Sharp and Thomas Clarkson, participating in campaigns to end the slave trade in Britain.
- His involvement in the abolitionist movement highlighted the urgent need for reform.

Positions Equiano took:

- This person was a passionate advocate for the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. He believed that slavery was morally wrong and that it should be eradicated.
- He emphasized the fundamental rights and dignity of all individuals, arguing that enslaved people deserved freedom and respect as human beings.
- This person advocated for the importance of education and public awareness regarding the realities of slavery.
- He believed that informing people about the horrors of the slave trade was essential for garnering support for abolition.

Who was William Cobbett:

- an influential English journalist, political reformer, and writer known for his outspoken views on social justice, agricultural issues, and government reform.

Jobs Cobbett have

- After his early education, this person served as an apprentice to a local tradesman in his youth, which helped him develop practical skills. He worked as a laborer on farms, which provided him with firsthand experience of the agricultural issues that would later inform his writing and advocacy.
- This person joined the British Army and served as a soldier during the American Revolutionary War.
- His military experience influenced his views on government and power.

What brings Cobbett into this conversation about slavery/abolition:

- Although his primary focus was on domestic social issues, this person expressed support for the abolitionist cause.
- He recognized the connection between the exploitation of enslaved people and broader systemic injustices affecting the working class in Britain.
- He was critical of the British government and its policies, including those that supported or ignored the institution of slavery.
- This person used his platform to expose hypocrisy and call for moral responsibility regarding slavery.

Positions Cobbett took:

-He championed the rights of the working class, emphasizing their need for fair treatment, better working conditions, and political representation.
- He was a fierce critic of the British government and its policies, which he believed often favored the wealthy and powerful at the expense of the poor and disenfranchised.

Who was Robert Wedderburn?

This person was the son of an African-born enslaved woman and the Scottish doctor and plantation owner who held her as property. He made his way to England by way or war service in the Royal Navy

What Jobs did Robert Wedderburn have?

He took a job as a journeyman tailor. He also preached in a unitarian neighbourhood.

What brings Wedderburn into this conversation about slavery/abolition:

- His work also emphasized the importance of racial equality and social justice, linking the struggle against slavery to broader issues of human rights.
- By incorporating his life story and advocacy into discussions about slavery, this person enriched the dialogue around abolition, making it not only a political issue but also a deeply personal one for many individuals.
- His contributions are vital to understanding the complexities of the abolitionist movement and the ongoing fight for equality.

Positions Wedderburn took

- This person utilized pamphlets, speeches, and public forums to raise awareness about the plight of enslaved people and to mobilize support for abolition.
- He was critical of British colonial practices and the economic benefits derived from slavery, exposing the moral contradictions in Britain's stance on freedom while profiting from human exploitation.
- He was a fervent opponent of slavery, using his own experiences as a former enslaved person to highlight the brutality and inhumanity of the institution.

Who was Elizabeth Heyrick?

This person was born in Leicester to a middle-class family with Unitarian, progressive views, converted to Quakerism following the death of her husband John in 1797.

Jobs Heyrick had

- This person began a career of committed, out-spoken activism on a number of fronts, joining campaigns for a minimum wage workers' rights and animal rights, and against slavery and capital punishment, all topics about her political writing.

What brings Heyrick into this conversation about slavery/abolition

- This person emphasized the moral imperative to end slavery, arguing that it was fundamentally wrong and contrary to the principles of humanity and justice.
- Her writings often highlighted the suffering of enslaved individuals.This person was involved in various abolitionist groups, including the Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade.
- Her efforts helped to galvanize support among both the general public and influential political figures.

Positions Heyrick took

- This person argued for the immediate end to slavery, believing that gradual measures were insufficient and unjust.
- She supported the involvement of women in the abolition movement, emphasizing their capacity to influence social change
- She framed her arguments in moral terms, highlighting the ethical obligation to free enslaved people.

Who was Mary Prince?

-This person was a significant figure in the abolitionist movement and the first Black woman to publish an autobiography in Britain. Born into slavery in Bermuda in 1788, she endured a harsh life as an enslaved person. Her 1831 autobiography detailed her experiences of slavery and her eventual escape to freedom in England.

Jobs Prince had

-This person worked as a domestic servant in multiple households, performing tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and caring for children.

- After moving to England, she continued to work in domestic service, where she sought to support herself and gain financial independence.

- After publishing her autobiography, she became an active speaker and advocate for the abolitionist movement, using her experiences to raise awareness about the horrors of slavery.

What brings Prince into this conversation about slavery/abolition?

-Her 1831 autobiography provided a personal and powerful firsthand account of the brutal realities of slavery. It was one of the first narratives by a Black woman to be published in Britain, offering a unique and compelling perspective.

-This person’s testimony about her life as an enslaved person, including the violence and abuse she endured, resonated with readers and abolitionists. It brought the realities of slavery into public consciousness and helped humanize the plight of enslaved people. 

Positions Prince took

-This person supported the immediate end of slavery, emphasizing that no form of slavery was justifiable.

-She asserted the inherent dignity and humanity of enslaved people, challenging the dehumanizing views of slavery.

Who was Thomas Carlyle?

-a Scottish philosopher, historian, essayist, and critic, known for his influential writings during the Victorian era. He played a significant role in shaping modern historical narrative and social critique.

Jobs Carlyle had

-This person began his career as a schoolteacher, working in various educational institutions in Scotland

-This person became a prominent writer and essayist, contributing to periodicals and publishing essays on a range of topics, including history, philosophy, and social issues.

-This person also engaged in public speaking and lecturing, sharing his thoughts on history and culture with audiences.

What brings Carlyle into this conversation about slavery/abolition

-This person publicly opposed slavery in his later writings, particularly criticizing the inhumane conditions faced by enslaved people. He highlighted the moral imperative to abolish slavery.

-Despite his criticism of slavery, this person’s views on race and civilization were often controversial. He expressed skepticism about the capacity of certain races for self-governance, which has led to significant criticism of his stance.

Who was J.S. Mill?

-This person was a British philosopher, political economist, and social reformer, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the development of liberal thought. 

Jobs Mill had

-This person started his career as a clerk at the East India Company, where he worked for about 35 years. His experiences there influenced his economic and political thinking.

-This person was a prolific writer and philosopher, producing numerous essays and books that contributed to liberal thought, ethics, and political economy.

-He engaged in public discourse, speaking on issues such as individual rights, liberty, and social justice, influencing contemporary debates.

What brings Mill into this conversation about slavery/abolition: 

-This person was a vocal opponent of slavery, arguing for its abolition. He believed that slavery was fundamentally incompatible with the principles of liberty and individual rights.

-This person contended that slavery caused more harm than good, as it inflicted suffering on enslaved individuals and society as a whole. He argued for the moral imperative to promote happiness and reduce suffering, making a case for emancipation.

Positions Mill took: 

-This person was a vocal opponent of slavery, arguing for its abolition. He believed that slavery was fundamentally incompatible with the principles of liberty and individual rights.

-In his utilitarian framework, this person contended that slavery caused more harm than good, as it inflicted suffering on enslaved individuals and society as a whole. He argued for the moral imperative to promote happiness and reduce suffering, making a case for emancipation.