Changing Political Climate Flashcards
American war of independence
1775-1783 - further support for abolition came after the loss of America
The colony had bought in many slaves- 20% of the population of the 13 American colonies were of African descent
Created the debate of liberty and the rights of one nation over the lives of another since American revolutionaries professed nations of equality and the wrongs of keeping people in bondage for the benefit of another county
How did the American war of independence create doubt
Left behind a new political atmosphere in which people began to think more carefully about human experiences so the abolition campaign became more readily established combined with the publication of tracts such as equiano’s autobiography
When did napoleon reintroduce slavery into the french empire
1802 so to oppose the slave trade became of symbol of patriotic duty so wilberforce found greater support for the bill and gained support of the prime minister in 1806
What impact did the abolition of slavery in the french empire have
1794-1802 wilberforce found it very difficult to win support from the fellow MPs and the movement buckled under gov. Action such as the seditious meeting act of 1795 and the treason trials of 1793-94
Britain and industrialisation
The British cotton mills depended on the cheap slave produced cotton from the new world and British consumers got used to luxuries of sugar and tobacco.
The profits gained from the slave trade gave the British economy extra capital
However had the slave trade been the “magic bullet for industrialisation, Portugal should have been a leading industrial power
How many petitions were signed in 1792
519 were sent with a cumulative 400,000 signatures
The enlightenment
Promoted the development of new ideas of liberty and individual freedoms a
Drew humanitarian and religious groups to the cause
