Abolitionist Movement

Question 1

Origins of the movement and Growth in popularity

Answer 1

• Quakers decided none of their members could be involved in the Trade
• Case of the Zong brought public outrage
• Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade was set up to try to end the slave trade
• Sugar boycott spread word of abolitionist movement
• over 500 petitions for abolishing the slave trade signed by nearly 400,000
  people arrived in Parliament in the space of a few weeks
• Wilberforce secured a many bills that gradually abolished the trade

Question 2

Role of Wilberforce

Answer 2

• William Wilberforce led the campaign in Parliament, giving a three hour speech
• introduce many abolition Bills that failed until one eventually succeeded
• presented the evidence gathered by Thomas Clarkson and others to
  show the cruelty of the Slave Trade

Question 3

Arguments of the abolitionists: Christian

Answer 3

• slavery went against Christian teaching that all people were equal in the sight of God
• Slave Trade encouraged wars in Africa, Christians were pacifists
• you should treat others as you wish to be treated

Question 4

Arguments of the abolitionists: Humanitarian

Answer 4

• Trade caused cruelty and suffering for slaves and cuz Africa became more violent
• Many British sailors died

Question 5

Arguments of the abolitionists: Economic

Answer 5

• Some argued that enslaved
  people were an inefficient and costly source of labour because paid workers were would be more productive
• Britain economy no longer focused on slaves thanks to industrial revolution

Question 6

Methods of the abolitionists

Answer 6

• Thomas Clarkson used “Africa box” and made pamphlets
• Granville Sharp fought for slave’s rights in court
• Olaudah Equiano wrote autobiography of time as a slave
• John Newton, former slave ship captain, wrote books and ‘amazing grace’
• Hannah More wrote poems, encouraged sugar boycott
• Wilberforce passed bills

Question 7

Arguments for the slave trade

Answer 7

• planters, merchants and investors made money on the trade
• economists argued that the trade was essential for the British economy
• Britain would lose overall wealth and jobs if the trade ended
• loss
  of government revenue from taxes was feared
• legal scholars argued that government had no right to take away the slaves that plantation owners had bought legally

Question 8

Effect of the French Revolution

Answer 8

• British government feared a similar revolution as French revolutionary ideas of liberty and freedom became linked with the arguments
  of the abolitionists
• Britain became involved in the French Revolutionary Wars, to oppose the slave trade during a major war seemed unpatriotic
• Trade provided training for sailors
  joining the Royal Navy
• Britain needed a lot of money to pay for the war with France