3.1) black britain and the road to emancipation (1730 - 1833) Flashcards
what did those brought to england as chattel slaves do?
- they forced to work in sugar, tobacco and cotton plantations after being sold in slave markets
- slave owners in north america and the carribean (as well as mechants and manufacturers) benefitted from this
how did chattel slavery and the trade power britain’s growth?
- british ships sailed to the west african coast to trade and traded metals and textiles -> some african rulers profited from this
- chattel slaves were sold for a profit in the americas and were to work unpaid growing crops that would eventually taken to britain
- the people processing these at factories would be forced to work there out of poverty
- britain made a profit at every stage
what do we know about africans in britain in the 18th century?
- africans lived all over england and wales - most in london (making up 1% of the population in 1760)
- estimated that 10,000 lived in the country
- worked a range of occupations; police, priest, teacher etc.
- most were domestic servants
how did young working men become independent?
- they aimed to be apprenticed to a trade and after 7 years they gained the freedom the city
when and why was the ‘freedom of the city’ restricted to black men?
- 1730 - the city of london banned black people from being apprentices
what was the ‘freedom of the city’?
an award given to young men after completing 7 years of being an apprenticeship. black men were forbidden from becoming an apprentice
what did most black people work as in england at the time?
- most were domestic servants
- some were brought directly from africa, where they had been enslaved
was slavery lawful in england?
- it was unlawful in england (no law permitting it) but the enslavement of africans in colonies was permitted
- 1706, the chief justice declared: “there is no such thing as a slave by the laws of england… as soon as a n* comesinto england, he becomes a free man”
- but there was no law forbidding it so many black people had to assert their rights and were often denied
how did servants of plantation owners get treated in britain?
- many plantation owners continued to treat their servants like slaves and they continued to suffer the same abuse that they faced in the west indies or antigua, as enslaved people.
- freedom was limited
what was the somerset case and when did it happen?
- james somerset ran away from captivity but was then recaptured
- salvery abolitionist granville sharpe helped him bring his case to court
- the verdict said that “No master was ever allowed here to take a slave by force to be sold abroad because he deserted from his service, or for any other reason whatever.” and indicated that slavery was illegal
- the case stood as a precedent for slaves in england, although many people continued to forcibly enslave people
what is an abolitionist?
people who campaigned to end slavery
how were the lives of black people born in britain different to those who arrived as slaves and the poor majority?
not much is known apart from the fact that a few were activists
what did the british government offer to slaves during the american war of independence?
- they offered freedom from enslavement to encourage black people in north america to fight on their side
- many of these fighters had ‘liberty to slaves’ embriodered on their uniforms
what happened to the enslaved people that were offered ‘freedom’ during the american war of independence?
- they were made to leave the new USA
- those who came to britain were very poor because they were denied pay and had no work
what did the committee for the relief of the black poor do?
- they gave out food and clothing
- they had the idea of resettling people in africa and in 1781, 441 people went to whatis now sierra leone
