The Slave Trade

when was SEAST established

1787

when was the Dolben Act passed

1788

when was the Slave Trade Regulation Act passed

1799

when was the abolition of the slave trade

1807

why were Quakers advocating for the end of the slave trade

religious belief that God was inside every human being - moral objection to the slave trade

brought attention to a cause which was not widely considered in society

when did the Quakers first present a petition against the slave trade

1783

273 people signed a petition against the slave trade

presented to the government in June

when did the Quakers organise their Committee Against The Slave Trade

1783

when were 100 petitions against the Slave Trade presented to parliament

1788

who were Evangelical Christians

saw the slave trade as sinful, which would prevent the reaching of heaven

Clarkson, Wilberforce, and Granville Sharp were evangelical christians

as their faith required them to spread their message of repentance they were practised in public speaking

who was Granville Sharp

civil servant who took a keen interest in the abolition of slavery

founding member of SEAST

campaigned for the end of the slave trade through legal measures

who was Clarkson

became a leading figure in the abolition movement after winning a competition for his essay about slavery

became a founding member of SEAST

dedicated his life to abolition and was a driving force for the movement

foundations of SEAST

lobby group who campaigned tirelessly for abolition

made up of social reformers with strong religious backgrounds

apply political pressure to the gov

the Zong Case

on a voyage in 1781 the Captain had ordered that 133 slaves be thrown overboard in the last stage of their journey as food supplies were running low

became a legal case as the ship owner tried to claim insurance for the drowned slaves

how much income was dependent on the slave trade 1780s

24% of the country’s annual income

who were the West India Lobby

group of sugar planters in the West Indies whose business depended on the slave trade

nurtured close links with parliament, estimated that by the late 1700s 50 MPs were tied to the group

what was the wedgewood cameo

logo of a slave produced by SEAST with the slogan ‘Am I Not A Man And A Brother?’

what was the Brookes Diagram

cross section of a slave ship that showed the brutal conditions

how many people had signed anti slavery petitions in 1792

519

role of Wilberforce in parliament

between 1791 and 1799 presented a bill to parliament every year on the abolition of the slave trade

the Haitian Revolution 1791

a French colony that grew sugar and coffee - generated significant profits

rebellion occurred under the leadership of Toussaint L’Ouverture

around 4000 of those in charge of the colony were killed

180 plantations destroyed

Haitian slaves were freed

what is the decline thesis

argument proposed by Eric Williams

slave trade ending was motivated by economic factors

slave trade was becoming unprofitable in the late 1700s

mercantilism meaning

commercialisation, belief in profitable trade

impact of slave rebellions

45,000 british soldiers died 1793-1801

grenada revolution lasted 1 year

10% of ships revolt

how many in parliament voted against abolition in 1807

16

how much did the average slave ship cost

an excess of £3000

evidence that the slave trade was costing more

increase in slave rebellions cost more

war with France meant less trade and shrinking market for slave goods

payed labour is more productive

old vs new plantations

12 merchant houses went bankrupt in Liverpool

Fedon’s rebellion - Grenada

began march 2 1795 and lasted until June 19 1796

14,000 and 28,000 slaves supported him

killed around 7000 slaves and 48 British soldiers

lasted for a year but ultimately defeated

where in London did SEAST meet

Clapham

how many miles did Clarkson cover when gathering his research

35,000 miles

in what year did the HoC vote to gradually abolish the slave trade

1792

what group did Equiano lead

Sons of Africa

1806 foreign slave trade act

forbade trading (including slaves) with countries that Britain was at war with

cut the slave trade by almost 2/3

what was the 1800 act of union

brought many Irish MPs into the Westminster parliament

these mps were more likely to be pro abolition

influence of the American war of independence

Britain lost a key colony

ideas of freedom

impact of France

French decision to abolish slavery in 1794 was damaging to the abolition movement

support for the abolition movement dissipated

SEAST seen as Jacobin and sympathy for French ideas

how many Britons boycotted sugar and when

300,000 in 1791

what factors contributed to the shifting landscape in Britain

French wars and Napoleon

Slave rebellion

American War of Independence

how did the French wars influence the end of the slave trade

explains the timing of abolition

can be linked to the decline thesis

Britain wanted to do the opposite of the French

Equiano’s influnce in ending the slave trade

his narrative reached a large audience in Britain and America

offered a firsthand experience

Sons of Africa

died in 1797 10 years before abolition

Clarkson’s influence in abolition

collected information that could be presented to the public and parliament e.g. equipment used on slave ships, finding witnesses, visited major ports

persuaded wilberforce to join the movement

made the Brooke’s diagram

travelled 35,000 miles around Britain

seen as too close to France, break from the movement for much of the 1790s

what are the four arguments for abolition

humanitarian

economic

individuals

shifting political landscape

wilberforce influence in abolition

great orator

influenced by Clarkson

had influence among other MPs, gave the movement a voice in parliament

not a skilful legislative tactician, often introduced an abolition bill late in the parliamentary session when MPs were distracted by other issues

strengths of popular impact of SEAST

Clarkson covered 35,000 miles between 1787 and 1794

Manchester petition 1787 gained 11,000 signatures

women inclusive

sugar boycott

had a universal appeal- religious

limitations of popular impact of SEAST

women were key supporters of the movement but couldn’t vote

24% of the nations income came from slavery and a large amount of this was sugar related

strengths of SEAST organisation and use of media

‘Am I Not A Man And A Brother’ slogan was widespread and associated with the movement, became ‘fashionable’ to wear

books, pamphlets

wedgewood cameo gained them middle class support

Brookes diagram

limitations of SEAST organisation and use of media

relied on public campaigns to raise awareness

lack of influence in parliament

strengths of SEAST impact in parliament

1788 Dolben Act introduced

12 May 1789 wilberforce gave a speech in parliament - HoC agreed to establish a committee to look into the slave trade

in 1788 over 100 petitions presented to the commons

1792 parliament ruled the slave trade should be gradually abolished (after wilberforce speech)

limitations of SEAST impact in parliament

18 April 1791 wilberforce introduced a bill to abolish the slave trade which was defeated on 19 april

abolition bill 30 may 1804 defeated in the lords

West India Lobby formed against SEAST

War and French Revolution

strengths of SEAST leadership

granville sharp appointed as chairman in 1787

may 12 1789 wilberforce made first speech about the conditions of the ‘middle passage’

Clarkson’s travelling provided a link between London and the provinces

equiano provided first hand experience

limitations of SEAST leadership

1789-1806 wilberforce presented an abolition bill every year

strengths of SEASTs use of events and crises

the Zong Case - Sharp raised a social and legal uproar which also increased the profile of SEAST

1792 519 petitions presented to HoC

limitations of SEASTs use of events and crises

planters blamed the abolitionists for the St Domingue revolution

movement lost momentum

rejected a proposal to endorse a nationwide boycott of slave grown produce

strengths of SEAST long-lasting

pre SEAST members organised the Anti-Slavery Society to improve conditions in the West Indies and grand emancipation

limitations of SEAST long lasting

1793 the London Committee only met 33 times and in 1794 only 9 times

ceased operations in 1797

fizzled out by 1800

key features of the humanitarian argument

the enlightenment ideas questioned the slave trade

quakerism

evangelicals

strengths of the humanitarian argument

Quakerism- moral objection to the slave trade, brought attention to a cause which was not widely considered, organised Committee Against the Slave Trade 1783

Evangelical Christians- Clarkson, Wilberforce, Granville Sharp, their faith required them to spread their message, practised in public speaking

limitations of the humanitarian argument

slavery itself was not abolished, only the trade was banned

strengths of the economic argument

Williams argues that abolition was purely motivated by economic self interest

1806 foreign slave trade act cut the slave trade by 2/3

weaknesses of the economic argument

in 1807 the British economy was going through a relative boom

peak year for protectionist economics

in the 1780s 40% of the income in Bristol was slave based

strengths of the individuals argument

Clarkson collected info that could be presented to the public and parliament and made the Brookes diagram

Equiano offered firsthand experience, Sons of Africa

Wilberforce was an MP, gave the movement a voice in Parliament, great orator who was influenced by Clarkson

limitations of the individuals argument

Clarkson took a break from the movement in 1794, only returned 10 years later

Equiano died in 1797, 10 years before the end of abolition

Wilberforce was not a skilful legislative tactician, 1789-1806 introduced an abolition bill every year

strengths of the shifting landscape argument

slave revolts became unignorable, Grenada revolution lasted for a year, 10% of slave ships revolted, average slave ship cost an excess of £3000, 90% of insurrections took place 1798-1807

French wars- Britain wanted to do the opposite of France, can be linked to the decline thesis

American War of Independence- ideas of freedom and the enlightenment spread

limitations of the shifting landscape argument

Pitt withdrew support

vote for gradual abolition was doubled

American War of Independence cannot explain the timing of abolition

strengths of Walvin’s argument

Plantations and banks were going bust- 12 merchant houses went bankrupt in Liverpool

increase in slave rebellions increased cost

war with France meant less trade and shrinking market for slave goods

payed labour is more productive

old vs new plantations

limitations of Walvin’s argument

West India Lobby- those most involved didn’t want abolition

some evidence that it was making the most money ever

property value of slave colonies

had doubled since 1789

the sugar trade

fuelled by the slave trade

most profitable year ever was 1806

disproves decline thesis