ABOLITION OF SLAVE TRADE 1807

Question 1

What were the political causes for the abolition of the slave trade?

Answer 1

Quakers, led by William Wilberforce, petitioned Parliament in 1783

1792 a large campaign led to 519 petitions from every country

Question 2

What were economic causes for the abolition of the slave trade?

Answer 2

By 1800 loss profit and diseased slaves- 1/10 of ships would lose profit in 1778- Liverpool slave merchants lost £700,000

Question 3

What were the individual/ideological causes for the abolition of the slave trade?

Answer 3

Adam Smith argued paid labourers would be more efficient and profitable

Question 4

What were the foreign rivalry causes for the abolition of the slave trade?

Answer 4

After French revolution 1794 French ended slavery in its colonies but then restored it under Napolean. Britain support for anti-slavery was seen as anti-French as it would damage the French economy and war efforts

Foreign slave trade bill 1806 banned British from supplying slaves to the French

Question 5

What was the significance of the abolition of the slave trade?

Answer 5

Starts move towards free trade as it challenged mercantilism

Search for new trade routes open new markets

Changed the role of the navy- worlds policeman to deal with illegal slave trade and smuggling

Question 6

Why was the abolition of the slave trade not significant?

Answer 6

Slave trade continued illegally through smuggling

Short term negative impact on ports such as Bristol and Liverpool (but trade was already in decline and they benefited from new free trade)