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    Abolition of Slave Trade: Amigo Tutor: Theresa Shamiso Sibanda Cell: 0774658065 Mount Pleasant School

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    Farai Nyani
    Slave trade was abolished in 1807 by the British due to both economic and humanitarian reasons. Abolitionists like Equiano Olauda, John Wesley, and William Wilberforce campaigned against the slave trade through speeches, writings, and petitions. It was difficult to end slave trade due to resistance from those profiting from it and lack of cooperation from other countries still participating. Slave trade was finally ended through increased naval patrols, treaties prohibiting the trade, and African kings diversifying their economies due to new market demands.

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    Abolition of Slave Trade: Amigo Tutor: Theresa Shamiso Sibanda Cell: 0774658065 Mount Pleasant School

    Uploaded by

    Farai Nyani
    103 views26 pages
    Slave trade was abolished in 1807 by the British due to both economic and humanitarian reasons. Abolitionists like Equiano Olauda, John Wesley, and William Wilberforce campaigned against the slave trade through speeches, writings, and petitions. It was difficult to end slave trade due to resistance from those profiting from it and lack of cooperation from other countries still participating. Slave trade was finally ended through increased naval patrols, treaties prohibiting the trade, and African kings diversifying their economies due to new market demands.

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    Slave trade was abolished in 1807 by the British due to both economic and humanitarian reasons. Abolitionists like Equiano Olauda, John Wesley, and William Wilberforce campaigned against the slave trade through speeches, writings, and petitions. It was difficult to end slave trade due to resistance from those profiting from it and lack of cooperation from other countries still participating. Slave trade was finally ended through increased naval patrols, treaties prohibiting the trade, and African kings diversifying their economies due to new market demands.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Download as pdf or txt
    103 views26 pages

    Abolition of Slave Trade: Amigo Tutor: Theresa Shamiso Sibanda Cell: 0774658065 Mount Pleasant School

    Uploaded by

    Farai Nyani
    Slave trade was abolished in 1807 by the British due to both economic and humanitarian reasons. Abolitionists like Equiano Olauda, John Wesley, and William Wilberforce campaigned against the slave trade through speeches, writings, and petitions. It was difficult to end slave trade due to resistance from those profiting from it and lack of cooperation from other countries still participating. Slave trade was finally ended through increased naval patrols, treaties prohibiting the trade, and African kings diversifying their economies due to new market demands.

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    Abolition of Slave trade

    Amigo Tutor : Theresa Shamiso Sibanda


    Cell: 0774658065
    Mount Pleasant School
    shamisoblessing@gmail.com
    ©
    INTRODUCTION

    Slave trade was abolished by the British in 1807 and slavery in 1833.
    People expected slave trade to end abruptly but that was not the case.
    The last slave ship was seen in1866 in West Africa and 1924 in East Africa.
    Abolition of slave trade was influenced by both economic and humanitarian
    reasons.
    Many pressure groups influenced the British government to abolish slave trade.
    There were challenges associated with the abolition of slave trade.
    Both Africans and European countries resisted the end of this lucrative trade.
    Although it took long to end, steps were taken to bring slave trade to an end .
    Abolitionists

    Abolitionists can be divided into 2 groups


    Humanitarian Abolitionists:
    Equianno Olauda was a former slave.
    John Wesley was an evangelist and Founder member of Methodist church.
    William Wilberforce a humanitarian a philanthropist and member of the British
    Assembly.
    Granville Sharp was a humanitarian.
    Economic Abolitionists :
    Thomas Clarkson was an economist.
    Adam Smith was an economist.
    Humanitarians contributions

    Equiano Olauda was a former slave from West Africa.


    He wrote articles revealing ill treatment of slaves in the plantations.
    He made public speeches criticizing slave trade and slavery.
    He held campaigns against slave trade and slavery.
    Cont’ Granville Sharp and William
    Wilberforce
    William Wilberforce and Granville sharp were against the evils of slave trade and
    slavery .
    In their writings they criticized slave trade and slavery.
    They held campaigns against slave trade.
    Wilberforce influenced the parliament against slave trade.
    Cont’ John Wesley

    John Wesley was an evangelist and founder member of Methodist church.


    He was against slave trade and slavery.
    He said it is against the will of God to enslave other people.
    His contribution is classified as moral or humanitarian.
    Rousseau

    Rousssau was a philosopher and a great thinker.

    He was against slave trade and slavery.


    His famous speech “Man are born free but are always in chains”
    He advocated for the end of slavery.
    Economists contribution

    Adam Smith was an economist.


    He believed in free trade policy or Leissaizfaire-free enterprise.
    He believed that paid labour was more effective than unpaid labour.
    Thomas Clarkson

    Clarkson was influenced by slave revolts to advocate for the end of slave trade.
    He felt free labour was better than slaves.
    Slave revolts had caused destruction of property.
    Slaves burnt sugar plantations disrupted activities in economic centers.
    Slaves were less productive than paid labour or free labour.
    He made a proposal to free slaves.
    His contributions were considered by law makers in Britain.
    Post modernist contributions

    Recent researches have come to the conclusion that slave trade was not
    caused by single factor.
    Abolition of Slave trade was caused by both economic and humanitarian factors.
    Theories of abolition

    There are three theories of abolition of slave trade namely


    1. Humanitarian/moral/philanthropic theory
    2.Economic theory
    3. Both Economic and Humanitarian theory (Recent researches and post
    modernist historians).
    Methods used by Abolitionists

    1.Clarkson,Equianno Oluada spoke powerfully against slave trade in their public


    meetings.
    2.Equiano Oluada wrote an interesting book which was published in 1789 on the
    interesting life of Olauda Equianno.
    3.They stuck posters and wrote pamphlets.
    4.Some of their articles were printed in the newspapers
    5.The abolitionists wrote petitions and made them signed by many people
    6. The petitions were taken to the king, queen, member of parliament and all
    important men who could change the law.
    7.Quakers everytime lobbed the members of Parliament to persuade them evils of
    slavery.
    8.Wilberforce introduced a bill in parliament.
    He also made speeches against slavery in parliament.
    Why was slave trade abolished?

    1.There were many slave revolts in America led by Tuissant and were
    destructive.
    2. Many slaves died due to ill treatment of slaves in the plantations.
    3. There was sabotage by slaves in plantations. The slaves burnt sugar cane
    plantations.
    4. Adam Smith realized that unpaid labour was more efficient than slaves.
    5. Britain had achieved industrialization and what she needed now were raw
    materials for her industries.
    6The British realized that France and Brazil had thriving sugar cane plantations
    and wanted to prevent stiff competition, hence the British proposed ban of
    slaves to jeopardize French and Brazil agriculture.
    Cont’

    Campaigns by ex slave Equianno Olauda exposed the evils of slave trade.


    The preaching of evangelists like john Wesley and other Christians pointed out that
    it was evil to practice both slave trade and slavery.
    Campaigns carried out by personalities such as Wilberforce and Granville sharp
    revealed the evils of slave trade from shipment of slaves ,slavery and violation of
    human rights.
    The writings of Rousseau who pointed out that men is born free but always in chains.
    He advocated for freedom of humanity.
    The British parliament or assembly was influenced by humanitarians preaching of
    evangelist, philosophers writings voted for the end of slave trade in 1897 and
    slavery.
    Role played by abolitionists

    Wilberforce was a member of parliament and his role was taking the campaign
    to parliament.
    John the founder of Methodist preached against slave trade and slavery.
    They wrote petitions and presented to the queen and influential people
    They wrote books exposing ill treatment of slaves.
    They made public speeches.
    They wrote articles and published them in newspapers
    Why was it difficult to end slave trade?
    Local factors
    There were too many unwanted people in Africa or social misfits who wanted to
    be disposed.
    Asantehene said “unless I sell or kill them they will grow strong and destroyed
    my people”
    Some kings such as Gezo and Glele of Dahomey had benefitted from lucrative
    trade and were reluctant to end it.
    They sponsored their annual festivals from money obtained from slave trade.
    The kings charged custom duty at the port of whydah.
    Seyyid Said of Zanzibar and Bargash in East Africa were reluctant to end slave
    trade due to fear of losing revenue and risk of rebellion by Arabs who found it
    profitable.
    Cont”

    African chiefs had no replacement product for slaves and agriculture was not a
    guarantee as opposed to booming slave trade.
    East and west African coastline were too long to be supervised by one squadron.
    Presence of creeks and lagoons made it difficult for British ships to effectively
    monitor these geographical features.
    Because of their size the slave ships often hide and elude British ships.
    Africans still had market for their slaves. The Brazilians continued to buy slaves
    and Africans continued to sale slaves.
    External factors

    British anti slave campaigns lacked cooperation from France, Brazil and Spain and
    America.
    These countries were suspicious of British intentions in ending slave trade. They
    saw the British as frustrating their budding industries.
    British used bribes. They had to bribe chiefs like Seyyid Said to accept abolition but
    lacked financial resources to bribe all chiefs involved in slave trade.
    European shipped slaves bearing American flag as these were not searched.
    Brazil established sugar plantations and continued to buy slaves serving as market
    for African chiefs. Brazil and needed labour force hence continued to buy slaves .
    Unlike Britain who had not industrialized, many Europeans countries had not
    industrialized so what they needed was labourforce and not raw materials.
    How was slave trade finally ended in
    Africa.
    African chiefs no longer had market for their slaves .
    Many Europeans had industrialized and now needed raw materials for their
    industries than slaves. As a result African kings had to respond to market forces.
    African kings acquired knowhow on how to produce legitimate products.
    Kings diversified their economic activities and they no longer relied on slave
    trade . They started to produce legitimate products.
    Hence African kings had to respond to market forces with legitimate goods
    demanded by European countries such as cotton, palm oil, ivory, groundnuts and
    rubber.
    Cont’

    Chiefs converted slaves into slave labour.


    British signed anti slave trade treaties with governments to encourage their citizens
    to end slave trade. Some governments such as the Portuguese government
    authorized British squadron to search ships.
    Slave rebellions and revolts in plantations were costly hence European powers
    thought it was more profitable to use paid free labour than slaves.
    Christian missionaries activities condemned slave trade.
    The Christian missionaries encouraged legitimate commerce. They taught African
    kings how to produce legitimate products.
    The British increased the number of squadron patrolling the sea hence intensified
    their search for slaves.
    cont

    Berlin West Africa Conference stipulated that European countries should end
    slave trade in their spheres of influence.
    The British and Americans created states for freed slaves Liberia and Sierra
    Leone.
    Captured slave ships were redirected to Sierra Leone or Liberia.
    The British bribed some African leaders such as Seyyid Sayid and Seyyid
    Bargash to end slave trade.
    Effects of slave trade

    Effects of slavery in North America


    1. There were many slave revolts in North America
    2.Slaves destroyed and burnt sugar cane plantations and poisoned their masters
    The plantation owners incurred losses.
    Britain established banks and industries from slave trade. they became very rich
    Slaves were living in difficult circumstances. Many died because of illtreatment.
    Many deaths due to poor living conditions ,beating and some were killed by owners
    if they tried to revolt.
    Slaves were Auctioned like property and this touched the heart of people like Oluada.
    Effects of slave trade

    There were intertribal wars and civil wars in order to get war captives who were
    then sold as slaves.
    Bigger buffer states were created in both East and West Africa.
    It resulted in death of slaves,
    Some died on the way to the coast because of travelling long distances and
    heat. They were overcrowded on the way to America.
    The were branded with hot iron branding resulted in deaths.
    Conclusion

    In conclusion slave trade was finally ended.


    Though the British had challenges in ending slave trade eventually it was ended.
    Locals and foreigners played a role in ending slave trade .
    Practice questions

    1. To what extent was abolition was slave trade due to economic reasons.(25)
    2. To what extent was slave trade due to humanitarian reasons .(25)
    3.”It was both humanitarian and economic that led to abolition” . Discuss(25)
    4.Why was it difficult to end slave trade in Africa?(25)
    5How was slave trade abolished? (25)
    6.To what extent was the role of abolitionist important for the abolition of slave
    trade in Britain.(25)
    NEXT TOPIC : TRANSITION FROM SLAVE TRADE TO LEGITIMATE TRADE
    THE END

    AMIGO TUTOR :Theresa Shamiso Sibanda


    Cell: 07774658065
    Mount Pleasant High School
    shamisoblessing@gmail.com
    ©

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