Changing Political Attitudes As A Cause For The Abolition Of The Slave Trade

Question 1

What major event happened in America in 1783?

Answer 1

American War of Independence - Britain lost America as a colony

Question 2

How did the American War of independence link to slavery humanitarian argument?

Answer 2

Able to raise questions over the liberty of men and the right of once country having control of another (due to cultural/political/identity differences)

Question 3

How did the American War of Independence have a negative economic impact on slavery?

Answer 3

Loss of a colony which had borough many slaves ( in 1776, 26% of the American population were African)

Question 4

How many years of fighting was the American War of independence, and why is this significant?

Answer 4

8 years, showed how resilient they were for freedom - slaves the same?

Question 5

How did the American War for independence impact the political atmosphere on slavery ?

Answer 5

More care about human experiences - gave abolitionists drive for slavery argument

Question 6

What other impacts did the American War of Independence have?

Answer 6

The loss of a British colony increased doubts over the stability of the slave trade

Question 7

What act was passed in 1799?

Answer 7

Slave regulation act - further restrictions on slave carrying on a ship - strengthening of the Dolben Act

Question 8

In what year did Napoleonic reintroduce slavery into French colonies?

Answer 8

1802

Question 9

What were the impacts in Britain of Napoleon’s reintroduction to slavery?

Answer 9

Opposition of slave trade now became a more patriotic duty - greater support for Wilberforce with PM William Pitt until 1806 and PM William Grenville in 1807

Question 10

What economic impacts did Napoleon’s reintroduction of slavery cause to Britain?

Answer 10

Reduced economic benefits as increased competition

Question 11

What impacts did the reintroduction of slavery in France have on the public masses in Britain?

Answer 11

Abolition movement slowed since 1793 (Treason Act 1795) , but it reinforced public opinion on abolition as became more widely acceptable

Question 12

Why did the French abolition of slavery in 1794 damage the abolition in Britain?

Answer 12

French Revolution in 1789 caused slavery to be abolished in 1794 due to liberal ideology - damaged British support as spread fears of revolution

Question 13

How did the Government react in 1790s and what acts did they pass to further restrict progress for the abolition movement?

Answer 13

Government increased monitoring on abolition movements- Meeting Act (1795) and Treason trials (1793 and 94)

Question 14

How was Napoleon’s reintroduction of slavery able to resurrect the abolition movement?

Answer 14

Reduced fear of revolution

Question 15

What issues did were the government facing in the late 1700s, and how did that correlate to slavery?

Answer 15

Government were pressurised due to loss of America, Napoleonic Wars and Industrial Revolution - unable to deal with slave issues

Question 16

How were slave rebellions able to increase movement for abolition?

Answer 16

Increased costs + pressure

Question 17

What occurred in the Haitian Revolution?

Answer 17

Led by Toussaint Louverture, 1000 plantations burnt , 2000 Europeans killed (out of 12,000)

Question 18

What year was the Haitian revolution?

Answer 18

1791

Question 19

How did the Haitian revolution have a negative impact on the abolition movement?

Answer 19

Fears of revolution increased which would cause the collapse of economics within Britain, people more pro-slavery after

Question 20

Why was the Haitian revolution not greatly impactful for Britain?

Answer 20

Haiti was a French-owned state

Question 21

What countries in the Caribbean did Britain have issues with?

Answer 21

Grenada, St Vincent, British Virgin Islands

Question 22

How did slave rebellions halt public support for abolition?

Answer 22

Pushing abolition was seen to be promoting slave rebellions

Question 23

What impact did slave rebellions have on parliament!

Answer 23

William Pitt (PM) shifted to pro slavery again

Question 24

What was the reaction by the government in Jamaica to stop rebellion?

Answer 24

Creation of a colonial assembly in 1792 , 1793 sent 3000 soldiers to neutralise the slave threat

Question 25

What did the colonial assembly do in Jamaica to reduce the threat of revolution?

Answer 25

Abandoned the use of metal shackles for slaves and mutilation as punishment - better treatment reduced risk of revolutions

Question 26

What British colony experienced slave rebellions in 1790?

Answer 26

British Virgin Islands

Question 27

What were the economic impacts of trying to control these revolutions?

Answer 27

Greater costs + crop damages made the slave trade less profitable

Question 28

Why was the timing of the rebellions important?

Answer 28

During the French Wars, Britain less focused on slavery + had more of an impact due to abolition movement declining