Humaniatrianism(The slave trade) + Exploration Flashcards
Was the Royal Navy always against the trade of slaves?
Why was the trade seen as directly beneficial to the Royal Navy?
How was this countered? By Who?
What happened when the slave trade was abolished in 1807?
-NO. The Royal navy had supported British involvement in the slave trade.
-It was argued that the slave trade provided the navy with many experienced sailors.
-This was proven wrong by Thomas Clarkson as many were lost to heat and disease.
-When the slave trade was abolished in 1807, the Royal Navy began suppressing the slave trade.
Were many resources provided to supress the slave trade initially?
Even with peace in Europe was this seen as a major focus?
Was there still a demand for slaves?
-Few resources were initially devoted to suppressing the slave trade since Britain focused on the Napoleonic Wars. Only two ships were given over.
-After the peace in Europe, enforcement was still not seen as a priority although the number of ships did increase somewhat.
-The slave trade actually increased since demand for slaves in the colonies was still there because slavery was not banned until 1833.
Was the West Africa squadron a desirable posting?
How did slavers by past ship inspections?
How big was the squadron by 1847?
What did Spanish slavers do when their ship was inspected in 1831?
-The West Africa squadron was an undesirable posting for officers due to long periods at sea, no welcoming cities, heat, mosquitoes and deadly disease.
-After peace in Europe, the navy had to be careful when seizing foreign ships. Slavers flew the flags of countries the navy could not act against or ‘threw the property’ overboard.
-The squadron did grow to 32 warships in 1847 and treaties were made to allow the navy to seize and board foreign ships although they were still weak: the navy could usually only act if slaves were being carried
-Spanish slavers threw 150 slaves overboard in 1831 while being chased by the Royal Navy.
How was new technology used to advance the trade and its prevention?
Between 1810-60 how many slaves did the West African Squadron capture and free?
How many slaves were sent to British colonies to work as indentured workers?
What caused the official end of the transatlantic trade?
East Africa and the Indian ocean?
-Both sides used innovations: the navy began to use steam to follow slaves into rivers and slavers used clippers to outrun blockades.
-The navy captured and freed 150,000 slaves 1810-1860- only about 10% of those transported. Most were taken ashore at Freetown.
-40,000 of those freed were made to be indentured labourers.
-The transatlantic slave trade only ended when slavery itself was ended in the Americas in British colonies in 1833 and after the American civil war in 1865.
-The East African slave trade continued and Britain used diplomatic pressure(e.g. In Zanzibar) to press local rulers to ban it. Infrequent slave patrols continued until the early 20th century in the Indian Ocean.
Exploration:
What was dangerous about ships of the line?
How was this proved in the disaster of 1707 that still haunted the British navy?
What became clear was needed to sail safely as a result?
-Deep keels were dangerous in shallow waters.
-The navy was still haunted by the 1707 Scilly disaster when four warships and 1,550 men were lost due to a navigation error.
-It was clear that exploration and mapping was needed to sail safely.
Why was the Royal Navy was perceptive to the Royal Society’s proposal for an expedition to the Pacific?
Between what years did James Cook Circumnavigate?
-The Royal Navy was perceptive to the Royal Society’s proposal for an expedition to the Pacific as it wanted to claim new lands and find anchorages.
-James Cook was appointed and circumnavigated the world between 1768 and 1771.
Was Cook able to make accurate measurements of Venus movemetns?
What did his expidtion show about long voyages?
Harrisions watch?
Where did it establish colonial claims?
What did the Navy do after the expidition(requirement of captains)?
What made exploration more systematic?
-Cook was unable to take accurate measurements of Venus’ movement.
-It showed that it was possible to stay at sea for years without losing too many men to disease if cleanliness and fresh food were maintained.
-It proved the effectiveness of new technology like Harrison’s watch.
-It established claims in Australia and New Zealand.
-After Cook, voyages of exploration became more common and captains were required to map uncharted waters.
-Exploration became more systematic after 1795 when the Hydrographic Office was established.
Why was Cook’s expidition viewed beneficial geo-politically?
Would this be his last?
What did Cook say about his ‘purpose’ for the expidition?
-Cook’s first voyage forestalled new territorial acquisitions by Britain’s European rivals, notably France and was the basis for future colonial expansion, including the establishment of a penal colony in New South Wales.
-NO. He undertook two more voyages for the Admiralty before being killed on the Island of Hawaii in 1779.
-‘They left us in peaceable possession of as much of the Island as served our purpose.’
