Abolitionists Flashcards
What was the first thing the abolitionists did?
They decided exactly what the aim of the campaign should be which was that the members (of the society for the abolition of the slave trade) wanted to see the slave trade abolished completely
Who were the abolitionists oppositions?
Wealthy powerful slave traders and plantation owners.
What was the first step they decided to would help towards ending slavery?
To stop British ships taking enslaved people to the west indies from Africa
Who were the Sons of Africa?
A small group of African abolitionists who had managed to escape slavery in the 1780s.
Who in the Sons of Africa wrote about their experiences and spoke at abolitionist meetings?
Olaudah Equiano and Ottabah Cugoana
Why did Cugoana publish a book arguing about slavery and argue with important abolitionists like William Wilberforce (He was a MP)?
He felt as if there was not enough being done to end slavery and he wanted Britain to set an example by becoming the first country to abolish slavery.
Where did Thomas Clarkson travel to collect evidence of the atlantic slavery?
Britain and West Africa
What did Thomas Clarkson show on his long speaking tours to his audience?
Shackles, Whips, Thumbscrews and Mouth openers.
Why would Thomas Clarkson collect trade goods made by an African craftsman?
To show that there were other things besides slaves that Africa could offer for trade.
How many books and pamphlets were published attacking the Atlantic slavery and why was it a bit pointless?
Thousands were made but only half of the British population could read. They then started using images since they have a persuasive effect on people.
Who was William Wilberforce?
A MP who made speeches and introduced bills against the slave trade.
Who did Thomas Clarkson write to distribute abolitionist pamphlets?
Josiah Wedgwood a Quaker ans wealthy pottery owner who supported the abolitionist movement.
What became the unofficial emblem of the abolition movement?
“Am I not a man and a brother”
What would have to happen in order for the abolitionists to stop the slave trade?
They would have to make it illegal which would require a bill (an idea for a law) to be put before Parliament.
What would getting a law abolishing slavery through the parliament hard?
Most members of the Parliament were rich men and owned many plantations in the west indies or had made money in the slave trade and only rich men could vote in the 1700s.
When was the first petition sent against the slave trade and who signed it and how many people?
It was in 1783 and it was signed by 273 Quakers
During when did over 100 petitions containing 60,000 signatures get presented to the parliament?
1787 and 1788
When did the first Abolition Bill get rejected?
1791
In 1792 how many petitions with how many signatures were presented?
519 petitions with over 390 000 signatures which showed that public opinion was turning against the Atlantic Slavery.
In the 1770s Quakers regularly do what to MPs?
They would lobby them to try and persuade them the evils of the Atlantic Slavery.
In what year was William Wilberforce elected to Parliament?
1780
In early 1787 William Wilberforce met Thomas Clarkson and they formed a collaboration that lasted nearly 50 years. Why did Clarkson give his collected evidence about the Atlantic slavery to Wilberforce?
Wilberforce used the evidence in his speeches to the parliament
What is an amendment?
A paragraph added to a bill usually by MPs
Many English plantation owners and slave traders were members of what?
Members of the church of England and they argued that slavery was mentioned many times in the bible. The church of england also owned platations in the west indies used enslaved people.
Many English plantation owners and slave traders were members of what?
Members of the church of England and they argued that slavery was mentioned many times in the bible. The church of England also owned plantations in the west indies used enslaved people.
Who were the Quakers and what were they also known as?
They were a religious group which broke away from the main church in the early seventeenth century and they were also known as the society of friends.
The Quakers produced many of what against the slave trade.
They produced many books and pamphlets against the slave trade.
Who was an Evangelical?
A strict follower of the teachings of the bible and the importance of doing the right thing. Which was to treat everyone how they would wish to be treated despite the fact that they believed black people were inferior to white.
Some members of the church of England were also part of the Evangelical movement. These included who?
Clarkson, Wilberforce and Sharp.
Who was John Newton?
A slave ship master who became a church minister and an abolitionist. He was also an important christian evangelical who campaigned against the Atlantic slavery.
What poet and playwright was an important figure in the anti-slavery movement in the 1780-90s?
Hannah more and she was also a member of the evangelicals.
British women were second-class citizens so…
They were not invited to sign petitions
What was the sugar boycott?
It was a campaign to stop people buying slave-produced sugar.
What happened because of sugar boycotting
In 1792 about 400,000 people were boycotting so grocers reported sugar sales dropping by over a third.
