History Abolition

Question 1

John Wesley

Answer 1

Founder of the Methodist church and campaigned against slavery throughout his life. Wrote ‘Thoughts Upon Slavery’ in 1774 and preached against slavery, particularly in Bristol. Died in 1791.

Question 2

Ignatius Sancho

Answer 2

Facilitated meetings for abolitionists and became the first black African to vote in Britain. His letters were widely read, having been published posthumously.

Question 3

Granville Sharp

Answer 3

Provided legal expertise in a number of landmark cases, improving the rights of enslaved people.

Question 4

Olaudah Equiano

Answer 4

One of the most prominent abolitionists, his autobiography was published in 1789. He spent much of the 1790s delivering lectures.

Question 5

Phyllis Wheatley

Answer 5

A talented poet and became the first black woman in Britain to have a book published. Her poetry described the experience of
being enslaved.

Question 6

Quobna Cuguano

Answer 6

Sold into slavery at 13, he later published a book in 1787 that focused on the religious and philosophical challenges to slavery.

Question 7

William Wilberforce

Answer 7

MP for Hull that used his parliamentary platform to lobby for abolition,
regularly introducing anti-slavery motions in Parliament.

Question 8

Thomas Clarkson

Answer 8

A prominent campaigner against the slave trade, he travelled to gather evidence
of the atrocities committed. He published many books and pamphlets, including
‘An Essay on the Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species’.

Question 9

Sons of Africa

Answer 9

Founded by Equiano, it was a group of prominent African abolitionists who
published their own stories, gave speeches, and organised petitions and
demonstrations as they argued for the end of slavery.

Question 10

1772

Answer 10

A case involving Granville Sharp, the Somerset Case, centred on the plight of runaway slave James Somerset. It was ruled that enslaved people in Britain could not be forced to return to the West Indies; this was based on the principle that slavery was not supported by English law and that it was the responsibility of the courts to protect individual liberty.

Question 11

1781

Answer 11

132 enslaved people were thrown overboard in the Zong Massacre in an attempt to collect insurance money for their deaths. Despite efforts by Granville Sharp, nobody was charged for the deliberate killing, but it had a significant impact on public opinion.

Question 11

1786

Answer 11

The Committee for the Relief of the Black Poor was founded. As an organisation, it
raised funds to provide food, clothing, and shelter to those in need in the Black
community. It attracted considerable support from prominent individuals such as the Governor of the Bank of England, the Quakers and leading abolitionists.

Question 11

1787

Answer 11

Freetown was founded with the aid of the Committee for the Relief of the Black Poor.

Question 12

1787

Answer 12

The Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade was founded. They raised awareness of the atrocities of the slave trade, coordinating petitions, boycotts and parliamentary campaigns.

Question 12

1791

Answer 12

Toussaint L’Ouverture led a slave rebellion in Haiti; many French men, women, and children were killed.

Question 13

1791

Answer 13

Wilberforce’s bill to abolish the slave trade was rejected by 163 votes to 88.

Question 14

1792

Answer 14

Abolitionists increasingly turned to the petitions to lobby to demonstrate public support for ending the slave trade. 519 petitions containing 390,000 signatures were presented.

Question 15

1792

Answer 15

Thanks to the amendment of Scottish MP, Henry Dundas, Parliament voted in favour of gradually abolishing the slave trade whilst working with colonies to pass laws improving conditions.

Question 16

1793

Answer 16

Britain became involved in the French Revolutionary Wars.

Question 17

1794

Answer 17

Slavery was banned in all French colonies.

Question 18

1800

Answer 18

100 pro-abolition MPs entered Parliament, after the Act of Union merged British and Irish Parliaments

Question 19

1806

Answer 19

A new government was formed under Lord Granville, deeply opposed to slavery.

Question 20

1806

Answer 20

British merchants were banned from trading slaves with France under the Foreign Slave Trade Bill. This stopped 75% of the slave trade.

Question 21

1807

Answer 21

Parliament passed the Act for the Abolition of the Slave Trade.

Question 22

1833

Answer 22

The practice of slavery was banned.

Question 23

Abolition

Answer 23

The act of formally ending a system, particularly one considered unjust or oppressive. The goal is to drive fundamental change.

Question 24

Bill

Answer 24

A proposed piece of legislation that is introduced in parliament for consideration and potential passage into law.

Question 25

Middle Passage

Answer 25

The forced voyage of enslaved Africans from Africa to the New World in extremely cramped and unsanitary conditions. They had little access to food, water or medical care; many would die during the crossing. It was one leg of the triangular trade route.

Question 26

Plantations

Answer 26

A large agricultural estate that, in the era of the slave trade, relied on enslaved labour to produce crops for profit. Enslaved people were forced to work long hours under brutal and inhumane conditions.

Question 27

Slavery

Answer 27

A system in which individuals are owned and treated as property and are forced to work without pay. Individuals are deprived of their basic human rights and are often subjected to abuse.

Question 28

Summary of the Period

Answer 28

The slave trade was justified in Britain by both racist attitudes and the economic benefits that the trade brought. Despite the trade being concentrated in a number of coastal cities (Liverpool, Bristol and London), the proceeds from the slave trade were distributed far and wide across British society. The work of the abolitionists was slow, but they benefitted from their unity and diversity as they appealed to different sections of society through different methods to advocate their cause. Despite the obstacles posed by the French Revolution and slave rebellions, the British rivalry with France facilitated the passing of the Foreign Slave Trade Bill, itself paving the way for the Act for the Abolition of the Slave Trade in 1807.