After this, with great courage he decided to hold this evidence to persuade people of how awful the trade was. He also showed very disturbing pictures to public people as they came in and out of suffering the thoughts of slavery and it’s treatment. Petitions were also sent out to be signed by public people. In 1788, they gradually started to top up in the Parliament’s hands. These petitions were from people who belonged to the working – class ranks. Once, they were collected they were shown to Parliament, demanding the abolition of slavery.
Many times abolitionists attempted to persuade government and Parliament members, to abolish slavery. Until, in 1807, they were successful. It was now illegal. The slave trade was now abolished. However, it was unfortunately, still not illegal to own slaves. After many years of persuasion from all religious, and vital members of the role. Then, over half a million people started to sign petitions were unleashed and submitted too Parliament members.
If it were not for the Abolitionists then such petitions would not have been designed and signed. Speeches would also not have been made as black men were not allowed to speak anywhere about the needs of the freedom for slaves. Thanks to the Abolitionists, parliament at least capitulated the abolition of the slave trade.
Aspect 2: The Great Reform Act
At the same time as campaigns rose, a major campaign was formed to allow me n to vote in elections. There were many riots. Eventually, the ‘Great Reform Act’ was passed which allowed male adults to vote in elections.
Aspect 3: Is Slavery becoming less profitable?
Another cause is that slavery started to become less profitable in Britain. In 1770, the income from Jamaica alone was £1,500,000. In 1800 about 5% of the national income came from the trade in slaves and the West Indian countries. Such as, in 1776 a man called Adam Smith wrote that the British owners of plantations became less profitable; due to the fact that slave workers did not work hard enough.
Aspect 4: Authorities and Revolts
After the revolting, the French Revolution took place in 1789, the government of the Europe continent decided to turn the countries into realms of freedom and equality and brotherhood. This meant that slaves should be free. An island known as St. Domingue took the thoughts of liberty from the French Revolution and used it for the freedom of slaves. It was situated in the West Indies as a French Colony. Coalitions were made with Britain as plantation owners were trying to avoid an act like the French Revolution.
Sometimes, slaves organized huge insurgences. Escaped
slaves also known as Maroons also revolted on Islands
such as St. Domingue. There were over 1000 rebels just
on the island alone. Their schemes were always set. They
always aimed for the death of any white man they saw.
They believed that white people were the slaves of slaves
as Olaudah Equiano once said as a slave, “You wait you
horrid white men, you will feed us as your friends.”
Slaves were very powerful when led by Sir Toussaint L’Ouverture. British armies tried to take control though the slaves seemed to be over powered and extremely out of control. On islands like Jamaica runaway slaves camped out at night and sometimes for months. Owners of slaves started to halt the catching of runaway slaves as this was reducing time and effort.
Black people were always being bought but owners never created some space in their hearts for African slaves. They thought that Black people were less powerful and were not able to take up huge jobs such as owning plantations and large industrial managing. Therefore African Slaves started to fight for their own freedom.
Aspect 5: Black people take action
In the 18th century black people were insisting on being treated like normal servants. Some refused work and ran away. Then the owners would have to go to the court officials to return back their slaves but still the situation of slavery was still not clear. Slaves normally made their own actions and moves. However, these could always lead to punishments. They did not co-operate with the plantation owners and they sometimes tried to kill them. Slaves commonly ruined crockery and acted foolishly. Many times they would be take fun out of their owners and laugh at the accidents that take place around the land. However, they were always harshly punished for such behaviour.
By 1800, slaves were still being sold and purchased in Britain and sometimes taken to West Indies which was usually what they dreaded to see.
People like Olaudah Equiano survived and began in working careers. He was kidnapped when he was eleven from his birthplace in Essaka. After six months of captivity he was bought to the coast where he encountered white men for the first time.
Aspect 6: Economics
The West Indies started to become less important to Britain and places such as Brazil started to produce cheaper goods such as sugar. Many plantations closed down in West Indies.
The slave trade was abolished in 1807. It then took many years until slaver over all was abolished. However, laws were still passing as some people started to sneak slaves into the country. The English knew that they were making no money and when they realised that other countries were producing cheap goods, other plantations were closed down.
Conclusion
After looking at the causes of the abolition of slavery in the British Empire by 1833, I think that the main reason was that the blacks took action and rejected the working habits and did anything to but their freedom. The rebellions and petitions were also very important as this dissolved the Slave Trade. It would also not have worked if the abolitionists did not come into society. With their help they showed England and all other countries that participated in the Act of Slavery, how bad it was. Authors also persuaded people to turn against slavery in their books. Such as the well known book by Olaudah Equiano, Zong. All the aspects are linked but I think overall all the help was used to abolish slavery, finally. Slavery was abolished in 1833.
