Unjustified Torture: The Abolition of Transatlantic Slave Trade in the British Empire
Slave Trade Abolishment: Examining the Path to its Demise
In the 1500s, a dark era began as millions were callously ripped from their homes and subjected to a horrific journey across the Atlantic. This abhorrent trade, known as the slave trade, capitalized on human misery, sending people into a lifetime of labor and mistreatment.
Targeting Africa primarily, these innocent individuals were forced into cramped, disease-infested ships for months, where they faced brutal physical and emotional abuse. An estimated 15% succumbed to their agony during the treacherous voyage. Some feared the journey would claim their lives, while others trembled at the thought of the unknown lives that awaited them. Desperate to escape their fate, some enslaved people were force-fed by crew members as they desperately tried to starve themselves. Commodified and sold like commodities, they were traded for goods such as cotton, sugar, tobacco, and ginger. How could such a brutal and profit-driven system endure for centuries? And, ultimately, how was this ingrained and inhumane system abolished?
As Britain expanded its horizons by exploring new lands and encounters with unfamiliar cultures, instead of welcoming these diverse societies, they were more interested in the land and the people they could exploit for financial gain. The racist mentality at the time permitted this inhumane treatment of innocent people. Since the slave trade was legal, those who opposed it needed to find a way to reach influential figures to bring about change. It took a combination of enslaved activists and distant watchers to confront centuries of cruelty. As slaves spoke out about their experiences and those in power began to acknowledge the barbaric practices involved, the laws surrounding the trading of people were reevaluated.
Upon the abolition of slavery, no more slave ships were permitted to set sail. However, this didn't immediately free the ones who were already enslaved. It wasn't until 1838 that all slaves within the British Empire received their freedom. Rather than providing compensation for a lifetime of suffering, the government compensated the slave owners for the loss of each one.
The Anti-Slavery Movement
Throughout Britain's involvement in the slave trade, there were always those who recognized the injustice inflicted by capturing, owning, and selling other human beings. As slavery grew more prevalent, more voices spoke out against it.
Two of the most influential abolitionists were Thomas Clarkson and William Wilberforce. While some had heard whispers of the hardships faced by slaves, Clarkson delved deeper, creating an extensive study on the trade. He publicized his findings, exposing the unspeakable cruelty inflicted upon slaves, worse than that suffered by animals. Travelling throughout Europe, he campaigned against these atrocities, mobilizing a widespread movement through his recruitment of supporters.
William Wilberforce worked within Parliament, inspired by Clarkson's investigations. He spent 18 years advocating for anti-slavery measures within Parliament. After relentless determination and powerful speeches, he successfully gained support for the abolition of the slave trade.
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References
- "The Slave Trade Act 1807", The National Archives, www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/slaver/pullout/law.htm
- "The Abolition of Slavery Acts 1833 and 1838", The National Archives, www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/slaver/pullout/act.htm
- "William Wilberforce", The National Archives, www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/slaver/intro/wilber.htm
- "Thomas Clarkson", The National Archives, www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/slaver/intro/clark.htm
- The anti-slavery movement, spearheaded by influential figures like Thomas Clarkson and William Wilberforce, sought to end the cruel and inhumane treatment of humans, worse than the hardships faced by animals, in the slave trade.
- The rapid advancements in transportation technology during the 18th and 19th centuries, such as steam ships and railways, played a significant role in facilitating the movement of goods and people, including slave trade abolitionists, across borders and continents.
- In the realm of science and technology, the advancements in communication and information dissemination in the 1700s and 1800s, like the creation of newspapers and the postal system, brought the atrocities of the slave trade to public attention, garnering support and fueling the anti-slavery movement.
- Furthermore, in the broader context of politics and general news, the increase in public awareness and outcry led to the passing of legislation like The Slave Trade Act 1807 and The Abolition of Slavery Acts 1833 and 1838, which eventually brought an end to the transatlantic slave trade within the British Empire.
