Britain, Booklet 1, SLAVE TRADE Flashcards

Question

(Significance of economic and financial factors) - Infrastructure related to slave trade generated much wealth, there were _____________ slave voyages in the 18th century... - This meant... - Also would have to... - Slave ports became centres of wealth, in Bristol in the 17__'s, ___% of peoples income... - Between 180__/__, _____% of Britains textile outputs went.... - Slave traders would fill their...

Answer 1

35,000 slave voyages in the 18th century. - This meant shipbuilding and out-fitting businesses grew. - Also would have to employ military people for these boats (GAVE PEOPLE JOBS). - Slave ports became centres of wealth, in Bristol in the 1780's, 40% of peoples income was slave based (DEVELOPED CITIES DUE TO PORTS). - Between 1805/07, 87% of Britian's textile outputs went abroad, with African markets taking the majority of this. - Slave traders would fill their ships with British goods and swap them for African slaves (PROVIDED PROFIT, PROMOTED GROWTH OF OTHER INDUSTRIES)

Answer 2

- Wars with France from 1793 to 1815, British manufacturers had to rely solely on African markets because the ports were blocked in Europe. - Codrington Plantation, 710 acres of land, £2000 a year with 276 slaves (PROVIDED PROFIT). - William Davenport netted 73.5% and 147% (PEOPLE INVESTED IN SLAVE TRADE). - By mid 1700s, Britain as importing 100,000 hogsheads of sugar each year (PROVIDED PROFIT).

Answer 3

- Older colonies e.g. West Indies weren't benefitting very much from the slave trade anymore, where as the younger ones were and wanted to keep it going. - There was a surplus of sugar (lack of demand). (6,000 tons). - Bonaparte (French emperor) determined to limit trade from Britain. - Britain had high import tariffs.

Answer 4

- 1799-1807, 65 plantations abandoned and 32 sold for debts. - British West Indian Planter was producing at a loss, in 1800 : 2 1/2 %, in 1807 : nothing.

Answer 5

- Criticised the decline thesis as sole reason for abolition. - Many believed abolition was due to change from imperial mercantilism to a more laissez faire attitude. He believes this and decline led to abolition. - Gov spending money protecting the slave trade which decreased it's profitability, they realised free trade wouldn't require their protection and would make profit in the LT.

Answer 6

The Marlborough ship disappeared, meaning all that was on it (slaves and products) was lost. Resulting in a loss of profit, this happened often (LOSS OF PROFIT). - The African Queen, 1792, 114 died of 255 (DEATH OF SLAVES). - 1 in 10 were subject to revolt, this was costly as slavers had to employ garrisons. - Crew also often died, and this eventually put people off the job, meaning slavers had to increase wages to make it more desirable, once again raising costs (INCREASED COSTS).

Answer 7

- 'The Juba' cost £4678. - Ships could be attacked by privateers and pirates, maintenance could be expensive and had to be frequent. - Kitting out the ship with food and supplies was also costly (EXPENSES). - In 1776, Glasgow merchants owed £1.3 million by their American partners (HIGH DEBT). - Of the 30 leading merchant houses in Liverpool, 12 had gone bankrupt by 1788 because of debt owed to them.

Answer 8

Adam Smith, Were applied to the slave trade and it showed that slavery was not as efficient nor as cheap as free labour. (happier people work harder).

Answer 9

- £1 million, by end of 1700's £3 million. - However, the increase in slave riots and rebellions began to cost much more than this profit, e.g. spending £1m on military.

Answer 10

- Which abolitionists used to justify their cause and alleviate the fears of businessmen who were concerned about their income. - Not in decline yet but fair to say that, with the advent of industrialisation and the factory system, an alternative mode of commerce was showing even greater potential for the future.

Answer 11

- 'Essay on the Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species, particularly the African' in June 1786. 10,000 copies. - Met in 1787, Alexander Falconbridge, former surgeon on board slave ships, was willing to testify about poor conditions. - Wrote speeches for Wilberforce and was also the one to convince him to join the society and movement. - Clarkson produced a campaign chest including things like bags crafted by slaves (to show they were skilled and to humanise them) and shackles etc. - Travelled 35,000 miles in under 10 years and interviewed 20,000 sailors. - Lecturing and agitating wherever he went. - Helped found 1,200 branches of Society for Affecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade.

Answer 12

- Parliamentary voice for Abolition, regular spoke in parliament in, asked by his close friend William Pitt (the new PM) in 1787 to be the parliamentary spokesperson for the campaign. - Introduced bills every year after 1791-99. - A negative is that he was a fan of gradual abolition, some historians say that he actually slowed down abolition. - Investigate the slave trade.

Answer 13

- 'Sons of Africa', had 12 members, including him. - Spoke at lots of public meetings (had first-hand experience). - 'The Intersting Narrative of the life of Olaudah Equiano, the African' in 1789. - He had been a slave after being kidnapped when he was 11. Eventually, he made enough money to buy his own freedom. He then spent the next 20 years travelling the world. - Travelled 8 months, sold 1,900 copies, became bestseller in England. - A huge influence due to him being black.

Answer 14

'Immediate not gradual abolition'... 1824... - Thousands of copies of this were sold in the US and UK. - She took an interest in prisons, corporal punishment, wages etc. - Her views were often seen as radical as gradual abolition was more popular. - Boycotts of goods produced by slave labour could help speed up abolition e.g. she started a sugar boycott. - She was a prominent female campaigner.

Answer 15

On a slave ship in the Atlantic Slave Trade and sold into slavery. - Ran away to Blackheath where John Montague taught him how to read. - He became an abolitionist and composer. - First known British African to vote actively since he was a male property owner.

Answer 16

The West Indies (Slave Trade) & married a freeman Daniel James. - Both moved to London where Mary’s memoirs were compiled together by Susanna Strickland and Thomas Pringle.

Answer 17

- Loss of America 1783 certainly affected the abolitionists' cause since it raised questions about liberty and the rights of men - Initially discussions took place at virtually the same time that the US constitution decided to prohibit slave imports for 21 years after 1787. - Parliament would have been aware of this, making it clear that these issues could no longer be ignored.

Answer 18

- 1776, approximately 20% of the population of the Thirteen Colonies were of African descent. (LESS PROFIT)

Answer 19

Consider human experience and the importance of freedom. - This was used as justification for ending the slave trade. - This & Equiano's autobiography made the movement gain considerable momentum. - Rhode Island + Connecticut, 1784, emancipation laws, freeing children born to slave mothers once they were 25. - Black reverts sued for their liberty in a chain of ‘freedman suits’.

Answer 20

1788, Dolben act passed which restricted the number of slaves on a ship. - This was renewed each year (with improvements) until 1799 when it was made permanent with the Slave Regulation Act.

Answer 21

French Revolution : 1789. Abolishment : 1794. Slave Trade Reintroduced : 1802 by Napoleon.

Answer 22

- Opposing the Slave Trade became patriotic duty and the movement gathered pace so Wilberforce gained support. William Pit (PM) in 1806. - French reintroduction breathed new life into campaign. - HATRED OF NAPOLEON LED TO INCREASED PATRIOISM BY PEOPLE WHO INITIALLY DIDN'T SUPPORT ABOLITION. (Nap liked the slave trade, so Brits did opposite). - Rallied common people together.

Answer 23

- British abolitionists became tarnished with the revolutionary brush which concerned the ruling class. - Those involved could risk arrest. - Meant Wilberforce found it difficult to rouse support for his bills between 1794-1802 as a result. - Napoleonic Wars cost the British government almost £2 billion, of which most was raised through income tax, which levied against the richest.

Answer 24

1791, 1,000 plantations burnt and 12,000 killed. ~ slaves attacked plantation buildings, murders white men & women. ~ Some found to have copies of Wedgwood’s medallion HELP ABOLITION: - Drew attention, won't want to be associated with the terrors. - Highlights capability of slaves (Toussaint L'Ouverture, slave leader). - Cost them many soldiers. - Affected French, less competition for Britain. HINDER ABOLITION: - People in UK may start to fear slaves, dehumanizes them, violent. - May want to fill in gap in Market as if affected the French trade.

Answer 25

Government crackdowns against 'Revolutionaries'. - Seditious Meetings Act (1795). - Treason Trials (1793-94), Thomas Paine and Thomas Hardy were put on trial for their opposition to gov. policy.

Answer 26

1791, The French reaction was muddled because the goals of their revolution contradicted their stance on slavery. 30% of the worlds sugar. ~ StDo was the 'crown jewel' of Ftench slave trade ~ British soldiers wanted to conquer it, failed and eventually became Haiti.

Answer 27

- 1795, 4 months, forced out every white slave owner. - 12,000 British troops to retake against 2,000. HELP ABOLITION: - Drew attention to slavery. - Plantations were burnt down, not an easy fix. HINDER ABOLITION: - May have made people scared and angry due to all the deaths, highlights violence. - Many revolutionaries were deported, lost impact. - Unsuccessful, along with Grenada and St Vincent.

Answer 28

- 1795, led by Maroons (free blacks). - After they were seized and handcuffed, they ambushed and killed 36 British Cavalrymen. - Approx 500 maroons against 5,000 British. HELP ABOLITION: ~ Cost a lot of money £500,000 (not worth while spending). ~ Made Britain look weak in face of slave revolt. ~ Shows that slavery is expensive and wasting money. HINDER ABOLITON: - Public opinion will be poor due to death of British people, ‘maroons’ mean ‘savage’ in spanish. - Deported to Nova Scotia (limiting long term impact).

Answer 29

89,000 officers, 45,000 died in battle or from disease. ~ In addition, 14,000 were discharged due to wounds of illness.

Answer 30

1740, only 1. 1783 there were 30. ~ This would help abolitionists move around the country to educate people.

Answer 31

Newspapers were uncensored, therefore anti-slavery propaganda could be published. ~ By 1789, 50% were literate meaning that newspapers and magazines were a good way to spread ideas, report abolitionist meetings and stimulate actions elsewhere.

Answer 32

500, here you could read literary works, share ideas etc.

Answer 33

Forced people to join the army, no matter whether they were rich or poor. - Between 1740-1805, more than 500 violent brawls between press gangs and their victims were reported.

Britain, Booklet 1, SLAVE TRADE Flashcards

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