History of Africa Final - Abolition

Sierra Leone

Many prominent mixed families of British and African descent lived there. Abolition takes off and Sierra Leone became important ground for it

Freetown

In 1787 a prominent Sierra Leone port was renamed Freetown and 400 free blacks settled there. British took over the colony in 1808, it was mainly run by descendants of free slaves and mixed people. British used it as a base for anti-slave trade naval squadron/base for new free slaves

Olaudah Equiano

He was also known in his lifetime (1745-97) as Gustavus Vassa. He was an ex-slave from west Africa, gained his freedom in England, then became active in the anti-slavery movement. Broadly educated/anglicized, produced book in 1780s publicizing evils of slave trade and condemning it. Toured England making speeches, played role in abolition movement

Liberia

Liberia’s capital was Monrovia, place where freed blacks from the U.S. were sent, became Liberia in 1847

Monrovia

Slaves were sent back there from the United States, ‘back to Africa movement’ popularized by 1822 American Colonization Society. Educated African elites took over the administration of Monrovia and it became the independent Republic of Liberia in 1847

Zanzibar

British, French, Germans, Americans all established consulates on the island of Zanzibar in the 1840s. The purpose of these was to facilitate trade in commodities like cloves, gum copal (used for making varnish) and ivory. Establishment of consulates part of a broader strategy where Europeans content to control overseas trade with certain enclaves along coast, not going inland much