Lovejoy-BritishAbolitionImpact-1995

Introduction

  • Title: British Abolition and its Impact on Slave Prices Along the Atlantic Coast of Africa, 1783-1850.

  • Authors: Paul E. Lovejoy and David Richardson.

  • Published in: The Journal of Economic History, March 1995.

  • Main Assertion: The article challenges the belief that slave prices in Africa fell drastically after Britain's abolition of its slave trade in 1807.

Key Findings

  • Slave Price Trends:

    • Real slave prices fell sharply between 1807 and 1820 in West Africa but stabilized in West Central Africa.

    • Prices rose again in both areas afterward, reaching levels similar to those before the abolition period (1783-1807).

  • Impact of British Abolition:

    • Abolition in 1807 significantly reduced slave exports from Africa initially but the long-term impact on slavery within Africa is contested.

    • Evidence suggests that the drop in prices led to increased domestic use of slaves in West Africa, while other historians argue that economic conditions in the Americas maintained pressure on slave prices.

Comparative Views

  • Paul Lovejoy's Perspective:

    • Posits that British abolition facilitated a shift to "legitimate" trades and increased slave utilization in Africa.

  • David Eltis's Counterargument:

    • Argues that the fall in slave prices reflects insufficient domestic demand to replace decreased transatlantic demand.

  • Agreement: Both schools recognize a general decline in slave purchase along the African coast post-1807, resulting in decreased slave prices.

Regional Variations in Slave Prices

  • West Africa:

    • Experienced significant price declines in the immediate aftermath of abolition.

    • Price rebounds began in the late 1820s, eventually trending back towards pre-1807 levels.

  • West Central Africa:

    • Price fluctuations were less severe, with prices remaining more stable.

    • By 1830, prices in Angola exceeded those in West Africa, countering the perception of uniform decline.

Data Collection Methodology

  • Slave-Price Data Sources:

    • Historians typically use two methods: price data based on shipping records and reports from contemporary observers.

    • Commissioned research collected diverse datasets covering slave prices by utilizing various price observation techniques.

  • Challenges in Data Compilation:

    • Slave prices were often recorded in different currencies, quantities, and sometimes inadequately reported.

    • The geographical impact of abolition varied significantly, evidencing the diverse nature of slave trade dynamics across the Atlantic coast.

Price Analysis (1783-1850)

  • Mean Prices Overview:

    • Average price of slaves increased to over ?29 per slave before the abolition.

    • Prices fell to about ?12 by 1820 post-abolition but varied significantly by region.

    • By 1830, average prices recovered to approximately ?19 per slave, nearing pre-abolition levels.

  • Real Prices Adjustments:

    • The article adjusts the prices based on a price index of trade goods to determine real prices of slaves across the studied period.

Conclusion

  • Restatement of Argument:

    • The study asserts that the decline in real slave prices was significant but temporary in West Africa, while Central Africa showed resilience.

    • The overarching conclusion refutes the idea that slave prices in Africa remained depressed post-abolishment, indicating a complex interplay of regional market adjustments.

    • Post-abolition market dynamics in West Central Africa hint at a degree of economic stability and increasing prices, suggesting the enduring demand for slaves within Africa remained robust despite declining transatlantic demand.