How Did Religion End The Slave Trade? Flashcards
John Pinney justification as a slave owner
. John Pinney - ‘But surely God ordained them for use and benefit of us; otherwise his Divine Will would have been manifest by some particular sign or token.’
Who was John Newton
. An Anglican clergyman
. Former slave ship master
Newton early life
. At 11 he went to sea with his father
. In 1743 he was on his way to a position as a slave master on a plantation in Jamaica, when he was pressed into naval service
What happened to Newton after demotion and why was he demoted?
. Demotion for tying to desert
. He requested an exchange to a slave ship bound for West Africa
. In Sierra Leone he became the servant of an abusive slave trader
What happened to Newton after he was a servant and on the way back to England?
. In 1748, he was rescued by a sea captain and returned to England.
. During a storm, when it was thought the ship might sink, he prayed for deliverance.
. This experience began his conversion to evangelical Christianity
Turning point in Newton’s lie
. Whilst aboard a slave vessel he became ill with a violent fever and asked for God’s mercy
. But he continued to participate in the slave trade as masters of slave ships
When and what caused Newton to give up seafaring?
He gave it up in 1754 after a serious illness
What did Newton do after seafaring
. In 1757 he applied for Anglican priesthood
. In 1764 he finally became a priest
How did Newton feel about slavery in later life?
He began to deeply regret his involvement
Newton’s tract
. 1787- supporting the campaign, ‘Thoughts upon the African Slave Trade’,
. It graphically described the horrors of the Slave Trade and his role in it.
When did Quakers start questioning slavery and why were they against it?
. Since the beginning of the movement
. Quakers believe that God can be found inside every human being
. Therefore to enslave a human would harm God
Importance of the Quakers
In 1783, from the Quaker’s London HQ, a petition against the slave trade was signed by 273 people and presented to the government
Why were the Quaker’s successful?
. Nation wide organisation of small groups of Quakers pre-disposed to the anti-slavery movement
. Many Quakers were literate with important links to publishers/print workshops and could distribute literature
Who was Anthony Benezet
A Quaker teacher, writer and abolitionist
How did Benezet help poor black children?
In 1750 he set up an evening class forpoor blackchildren from his own home
What did Benezet do to help end slavery?
Campaigned for the Quaker HQ in London to denounce slavery and wrote many anti-slavery pamphlets
Unitarian beliefs
. Unitarianism was labelled as heresy
. First to accept women as ministers and are concerned with advancing social justice and equality
Evangelist beliefs
Their belief in the strength of repentance as a means of salvation put them at odds with the practice of slavery which they saw as sinful
How did Methodism help the cause?
Held meetings and the abolitionist message reached people normally excluded from conventional politics
Importance of the spread of nonconformity
Spread in new urban and industrial communities enabled the abolition message to reach large numbers of working people - both men and women who were traditionally barred from having an opinion
Who was John Wesley
An early leader in the Methodist movement
Why did Wesley hate slavery?
. In 1730s, Wesley visited America wherehe came into contact with enslaved people.
. This experience left him with a loathingof slavery
What did Wesley write?
. In 1774, he wrote a tract called “Thoughts on Slavery”
. In it, he attackedthe Slave Tradeand proposed a boycott of slave-produced sugar and rum
Apart from the tract, how else did Wesley help the cause
. In August 1787, he wrote to the Abolition Committee to express his support
. In 1788, he preached a sermon in Bristol at personal risk and a disturbance broke out
Baptist beliefs
. Everyone is equal.
. No hierarchy of bishops or priests exercising authority over members
. Baptist faith attractive to slaves as the religion more democratic
The Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade - establish drate original members and impact of membership
. Established In 1787
. Original members: 9 were Quakers, 3 were Evangelical Christians.
. Inclusion of 3 non-Quaker members made the society more acceptable to the general public who viewed Quakers as on the edge of society
Josiah Wedgwood pottery business
. Designed, manufacture and distribute dthe ceramic medallion of a male slave in chains saying ‘Am I not a man and a brother’
. The publicly advertised the wearers support of abolition
Josiah Wedgwood religion
Wedgwood was a Dissenter, a member of the Unitarian sect.
What influenced Josiah Wedgwood to become actively involved in abolition
. Closely associated with the Lunar Society of Birmingham
. In 1773 society member Thomas Day publishedThe Dying Negro, an epic poem which influenced Wedgwood
What society was Josiah Wedgwood a part of?
. In 1787 - Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade
. Used his connections to publicise the cause
What did newton become in 1779 and who sought his advice?
. Rector of St Mary Woolnoth
. Advice sought by many influential figures such as Wilberforce
Newton and Wilberforce
. Wilberforce was contemplating leaving politics for the ministry
. Newton encouraged him to stay in Parliament Wilberforce took his advice, and spent the rest of his life working towards the abolition of slavery
Who did Benezet influence?
Thomas Clarkson
What was Benezet ‘s pamphlet called and when was it written?
‘Some Historical Account of Guinea’ - 1772
Who read Benezet ‘s pamphlet?
. John Wesley
. Benezet ‘s appeals to the British legal system, to show that slavery was contrary to the founding laws of the empire, influenced Clarkson and Sharp
Who did Benezet write to and what did he encourage?
Queen Charlotte in 1783 to encourage her to consider the plight of the enslaved
Who was William Smith?
. A leading Unitarian in the Anti-Slavery campaign
. A MP from 1784 to 1830
What were William Smith’s major concerns as MP?
. Parliamentary Reform
. The Abolition of all Religious Tests as to Civil Matters
. The Abolition of the Slave Trade
Who was William Smith closely associated with?
William Wilberforce
Who was the Clapham sect comprised of?
Wealthy, evangelical Anglican laymen, including Wilberforce
What did the Clapham Sect do from the 1790s onwards?
Used their high status networks both inside and outside Parliament to bring about the end of Britain’s involvement in the slave trade
Where was the Clapham sect founded and with what aim?
In Sierra Leone and aimed to resettle former slaves and establish legitimate commerce with Africa
Why is it ironic that the Clapham sect was founded in Sierra Leone?
After abolition the navy seized slave ships and put African captives to slave labour in Freetown
