How important was the slave trade to Britain?

Question 1

What is the slave trade?

Answer 1

The historical practice of forcibly capturing, transporting, and exploiting African individuals as slaves for economic purposes - predominantly by European powers

Question 2

How important was the slave trade to Britain?

Answer 2

The slave trade was of significant importance to Britain, as it played a central role in fueling the country’s economic growth, financing industrialisation and contributing to its rise as a global power, however, this importance should be evaluated in the context of its devastating impact on millions of enslaved individuals and the perpetuation of racial inequality and injustice

Question 3

Economically, the slave trade was…

Answer 3

highly profitable for Britain

Question 4

The slave trade contributed to the growth of…

Answer 4

industries such as shipping, banking, insurance and manufacturing which benefited from the influx of wealth generated by the trade

Question 5

The trade directly enriched not only the slave traders themselves, but…

Answer 5

the ports they sailed from

Question 6

British ports, especially ______ and _________, became major hubs for the slave trade, and the associated __________ thrived in these cities

Answer 6

Bristol
Liverpool
industries

Question 7

The profits from the slave trade formed the basis of Bristol’s first banks and literally laid the foundations for some of the city’s…

Answer 7

finest Georgian architecture (such as Queen Square)

Question 8

How many people were traded by Bristol merchants? (estimation)

Answer 8

500,000

Question 9

When was the Transatlantic Slave Trade Debated in Parliament?

Answer 9

February 1805

Question 10

Who was the Liverpool MP in attendance at this debate?

Answer 10

Isaac Gasycoyne

Question 11

What did Isaac Gasycoyne state at the debate?

Answer 11

“if we abandoned this trade, it would go into other hands” - this suggests that the Transatlantic Slave Trade is necessary to ensure the success of the British Empire

Question 11

What did Isaac Gasycoyne state at the debate?

Answer 11

“if we abandoned this trade, it would go into other hands” - this suggests that the Transatlantic Slave Trade is necessary to ensure the success of the British Empire

Question 12

“if we abandoned this trade, it would go into other hands” - summarise this view in one word

Answer 12

Utilitarianism - the benefits derives from the slave trade outweigh the moral considerations and negative consequences associated with it

Question 13

The profits from the slave trade also provided capital that fuelled…

Answer 13

the Industrial Revolution in Britain

Question 14

How did the profits from the slave trade provide capital that fuelled the Industrial Revolution in Britain?

Answer 14

This capital investment helped finance new inventions, machinery, and factories which played a crucial role in Britain’s transformation into the world’s leading industrial power

Question 15

Socially, the slave trade had a profound impact on British society - how?

Answer 15

The wealth generated by the slave trade enriched merchants, shipowners, and investors involved in the business, contributing to the growth of the middle class

Question 16

However, it is essential to note that the benefits of the slave trade were not…

Answer 16

equally distributed, and only a small portion of society directly benefited from the profits

Question 17

How did the slave trade influence the cultural and social fabric of Britain?

Answer 17

It contributed to the development of racist ideologies that sought to justify and perpetuate the institution of slavery

Question 18

These racist ideologies reinforced notions of…

Answer 18

white superiority and racial hierarchy, which had lasting effects on British society

Question 19

What is the concept of the white man’s burden in relation to the slave trade?

Answer 19

It can be understood as a perceived justification for the subjugation and exploitation if enslaved African individuals by portraying it as a duty of the British to civilise and uplift those they considered inferior

Question 20

Politically, what did the slave trade play a role in?

Answer 20

Britain’s rise as a global power

Question 21

How did the slave trade play a role in Britain’s rise as a global power?

Answer 21

The profits from the trade helped finance Britain’s military expansion and the establishment of colonies and trading posts

Question 22

The profits from the trade helped finance Britain’s military expansion and the establishment of colonies and trading posts - provide a breakdown of the connections

Answer 22

Financial resources
Naval power
Colonial acquisitions
Military operations

Question 23

Synonym for “highly profitable”

Answer 23

highly lucrative