French Revolution

Question 1

When was the first French Revolution and what happened as a consequence of this?

Answer 1

• 1789
• 1794 slavery in France had been abolished

Question 2

When did Napoleon reintroduce the slave trade in the French colonies and what was the effect on Britain?

Answer 2

1802
- this made the British consider their position further

Question 3

In Britain, what did opposing the slave trade become and what did this mean for Wilberforce’s bill?

Answer 3

Opposing the slave trade became patriotic duty
The movement gathered pace such that Wilberforce gained more support for his bill and even the support of the PM (William Pitt) in 1806.

Question 4

When was the slave trade abolished in Britain?

Answer 4

1807

Question 5

What was the French reintroduction of the slave trade in Britains abolition of the slave trade?

Answer 5

• A contributing factor
• It is too simplistic to argue that the French reintroduction of the slave trade meant it was abolished in Britain as they had been campaigning since 1787.

Question 6

What can be concluded about the effects of the French Revolution on Britain’s abolition of the slave trade?

Answer 6

• the French reintroduction reinforced public opinion and breathed new life into the campaign which had somewhat become stale in the 1790s due to the revolution.

Question 7

How did the abolitionist movement falter?

Answer 7

• faltered under government crackdowns against ‘revolutionaries’ with the Seditious Meetings Act (1795) and the Treason trials of 1793 and 1794 when Thomas Paine and Thomas Hardy were put on trial for their opposition to government policy.