Abolition Flashcards
What did Granville Sharp do to try stop the Slave Trade?
Sharp was a Lawyer and a very important campaigner. He was one of the most earliest campaigners for abolition. Sharps brother, Strong, was attacked then kidnapped and sold for £30. Sharp our cases forward to help others. For example, James Somerset (came from Jamaica to Britain) ran away. He was found then put on a ship back to Jamaica, because of Sharp putting this case forward to Lord Mansfield it was decided that slaves could not be forced to leave there country. Somerset was freed. Sharp was also involved in another legal case, The Zong. This case helped raise public awareness against the Slave Trade. Sharp was not an MP so could not take part in debates.
What did Olaudah Equiano do to try end the Slave Trade?
Equiano was a former slave, writer and public speaker. He formed a group called ‘sons of Africa’ and campaigned for abolition though public speaking, letter writing and putting pressure on parliament. Equiano also published a autobiography, he worked very hard to promote this. There were nine editions of his autobiography and was translated into many different languages. He book became the most popular and wide read book. It became a best seller. He went on tours around Britain campaigning against slavery. This changed the views of the publics thoughts on slavery. Equiano worked with Thomas Clarkson who was also a abolitionist. Equiano was not an MP so he could not take part in debates.
What did Thomas Clarkson do to try end the Slave Trade?
Clarkson was a researcher, writer and public speaker. He was a member of ‘The Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade’. Clarkson was the one to persuade Wilberforce to push the abolition cause to parliament. He travelled 35,000 miles around Britain. He would observe, find witnesses, interview and take notes. He interviewed 20,000 people about the Slave Trade. When he was in Liverpool he was attacked by a gang of sailors who were paid to try kill him. Clarkson was not an MP so he could not take part in debates.
What did William Wilberforce do to try end the Slave Trade?
Wilberforce was a member of parliament. Him and Clarkson worked together for over 50 years. Wilberforce gave bill every year for 19 years to try to abolish the Slave Trade. He lost his first ever debate. He would get other abolitionist to provide him with evidence. He used this evidence in his speech’s when he was debating in parliament.
What are 5 campaigning methods?
Books
Branding
Newspapers
Petitions
Sugar Boycott
How were books successfully used in the Slave Trade?
Books gained a lot of publicity in favour of abolition because they had detailed horrors about what happens in the Slave Trade. Slave captains and doctors would publish there experiences and speak about there time in the Slave Trade. These books would improve access to information and raise more public awareness.
Books were expensive at the time. A lot of people couldn’t even read and some didn’t have time to read anything because of how busy they were.
How were newspapers successfully used in the Slave Trade?
In newspapers they would talk about the accounts and insights into event across Britain and the Caribbean. Newspapers also reported speeches said in parliament. This aloud the public to join in on the debates. Newspapers improved access to information and raise more public awareness.
However, only have the population could read.
How were petitions successfully used in the Slave Trade?
A petition is a document signed by a large number of people asking the government to take action such as end Slave Trade. In 1 year, 100 petitions were sent to parliament with 60,000 signatures. These petitions shied the growing strength of public opinion in favour of abolition. In the next year, 519 petitions were sent to parliament with over 390,000 signatures. Some petitions were sent to the king and individual MPs.
The impact of the petitions were limited. Politicians could ignore the petition.
How were the sugar boycott successfully used in the Slave Trade?
A boycott is a type of protest when people deliberately refuse to do anything they normally would do until a business of government takes actions such as ending the Slave Trade. A pamphlet was written and sole 70,000 copies in 4 months. 400,000 British people boycotted slave grown sugar. Some people during the boycott did not use sugar, grocers reported that sales of slave grown sugar fell by 1/3 and in some places it fell my 1/2. In 2 years in India sugar grew 10 times over. The sugar boycott showed what could be achieved when organised.
The impact of boycott was limited. It damaged profits heavily.
What did people support the Slave Trade?
1.Brought wealth to Britain.
2.Brought employment to Britain.
3.Cities profited.
4.Products went into great demand.
5.Helped Britain to remain a world power.
6.Supported the navy.
7.Many MPs had financial interests.
8.Taxes from Slave Trade produces goods that were essential.
