Economic and Financial Considerations Flashcards
Describe Eric William’s decline thesis.
Disagrees with the moral argument and believed that the slave system was only challeneged in the late 1700’s because it was starting to become unprofitable for those involved.
Why is Eric William’s critical of abolisionists?
He believed abolisionists had a ‘saintly image’ - they were very selective with their efforts and if they were truly motivated by humanitarianism, they would have broadened their gaze to include other crimes such as working conditions in mines or poverty of the working class.
Why is Eric William’s decline thesis criticised?
The weakness of his argument lies in the definite assertion that economic considerations were the primary motive for abolition and that every action was motivated by it.
Seymour Drescher points out that abolitioning the slave trade actually did more to undermine the slave economy.
How many slave voyages took place during the 18th century?
More than 35,000.
Liverpool was what by the 1790’s and how much Europen trade did it claim?
Liverpool was the biggest slave trading port in the world by the 1790’s and it claimed 3/7’s of European trade.
In Bristol in the 1780’s, what % of people’s income was slave-based?
40%
87% of Britain’s textile output went abroad in what years?
1784-86 and 1805-1807
What years did British manufacturers had to rely soley on African markets and why?
During the wars with France from 1793-1815 - British manufacturers had to rely soley on African markets because the ports were blocked in Europe.
On the Codrington plantation in Barbados, the 710 acres of land made how much profit a year with how many slaves?
£2000 profit a year with 276 slaves
By the mid 1700’s how much sugar was Britain importing per year?
100,000 hogheads (63 gallon casks)
Due to the value of sugar, the value of British imports from Jamaica was how many times more than that of the 13 mainland colonies?
the value of British imports was 5 times that of the 13 mainland colonies
How many slave voyages did William Davenport invest in, in the 18th century?
74
What profit did William Davenport make on his slave voyages during the 18th century?
8.1%
Between 1779-80 whilst the American War of Independence was taking place, how much profit did William Davenport make in just 2 voyages?
Between 1779-80, whilst the American War of Independence was taking place, he netted 73.5% and 147% profit in just 2 voyages.
How much did profit from the slave trade amount to per year?
£1 million per year
