Abolition of Slave Trade

  • The abolition of the slave trade refers to the ending of the transportation and sale of enslaved people. While it did not end slavery itself, it was a crucial step towards that goal.
  • Causes and Factors
  1. Economic Factors: The rise of industrial capitalism made wage labor more attractive than slave labor in some economies.
  2. Enlightenment Ideas: Thinkers emphasized natural rights and equality, challenging the moral basis of slavery.
  3. Religious Influences: Religious groups, such as the Quakers, condemned slavery as immoral.
  4. Slave Resistance: Revolts and resistance by enslaved people demonstrated the inhumanity of the system and made it difficult to maintain.
  • Key Events and Legislation
  1. Somerset Case (1772): In England, this court case ruled that slavery was unsupported by English common law.
  2. British Abolition Act (1807): Britain prohibited the slave trade, though slavery remained legal in its colonies.
  3. US Abolition of Slave Trade (1808): The United States also prohibited the importation of slaves.
  4. Slavery Abolition Act (1833): Britain abolished slavery in its colonies, offering compensation to slave owners.
  • Global Impact
  1. The abolition of the slave trade by major powers put pressure on other nations to follow suit.
  2. It led to a decline in the transatlantic slave trade, though illegal trade continued.
  3. The focus shifted towards ending slavery itself, though this would take many more years and struggles.