The Slave Trade Flashcards
What goods from Britain were exchanged for slaves in Africa?
Textiles, guns and rum
What products were produced on the plantations and sent back to Europe?
Cotton, sugar and tobacco
what was the homeward passage?
shipment of goods from North America and the west indies to Europe
what was the middle passage?
the journey slaves made on slave ships from Africa to the plantations in North America and the west indies
what was the outward passage?
shipment of goods from Britain to Africa in exchanged for slaves
how did Britain benefit from the slave trade?
exchanged goods were already in large supply for slaves that produced the goods that were in high demand and sold them for profit - improved the British economy
when was the abolition of the slave trade?
1807 - abolition of slave trade triangle
1833 - abolition of slavery throughout the British empire
when did the campaign to abolish slavery begin?
The 1760s
what were the conditions like for slaves travelling through the middle passage?
horrific: 11 million enslaved people were transported in ships across the Atlantic to the Caribbean. conditions were unsanitary, diseases spread quickly because of the forced close proximity the slaves lived in, families and tribes were separated and these innocent people were tortured and beaten. it is estimated that 2 million died on the journey
who was Granville Sharp and how did he help in the abolition of the slave trade in 1807?
took slave owners to court and helped win slaves their freedom eg. the Zong case in 1783 when owners of the slave ships ‘Zong’ were put on trial for throwing slaves overboard in an attempt to cheat their insurers out of money.
who was Thomas Clarkson and how did he help in the abolition of the slave trade in 1807?
collected evidence that showed the public the shocking truth surrounding slavery (opened people’s eyes) + interviewed slave ship owners
who was William Wilberforce and how did he help in the abolition of the slave trade in 1807?
MP who has influence in parliament and was a member of the Abolition of the Slave Trade set up in 1787.
how did ordinary people help in the abolition of the slave trade in 1807?
petitions - Manchester 10,000 people signed in 1788 and 20,000 in 1792 - shows that people’s attitudes were changing over time
1.5 mill signed abolition of slavery in 1814
Boycotted goods produced by slaves (sugar)
how did the actions of black people help in the abolition of slavery in 1833?
10,000 black people living in Britain in 1800, many educated, ex-slaves (went against racist ideas about black people at this time)
Slaves went to court to get their freedom (Granville Sharp helped bring these cases to court) and most judges set the slaves free
who was Olaudah Equiano?
ex-slave who wrote about his experiences as a slave in his autobiography that was read by lots of British people who opposed slavery. Worked closely with Granville Sharp
