18th century–1833

The slave trade and the fight to end it

Story 8 of 8

Part of Britain's commercial growth and wealth was built on the slave trade. Slavery was illegal in Britain itself, but by the 18th century the slave trade overseas was a well-established industry, run mainly by Britain and its colonies in North America.

Most enslaved people came from West Africa. They were crammed into British ships and carried in horrific conditions to America and the Caribbean, where they were forced to work on tobacco and sugar plantations. Their living and working conditions were terrible. Many tried to escape, and some rose up against their owners.

Oil portrait of William Wilberforce, with grey hair, a dark coat and a cream waistcoat — William Wilberforce, who led the campaign against slavery in Parliament, in a portrait from around 1794. He fought to end the slave trade for almost 20 years. In July 1833 he heard that the law to abolish slavery was certain to pass, and three days later he died. Painting: Karl Anton Hickel, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In the late 18th century the Quakers set up the first formal groups against slavery and asked Parliament to ban it. William Wilberforce, an evangelical Christian and Member of Parliament, worked with other abolitionists (people campaigning to end slavery) and helped change the way the public saw the slave trade.

1807: it became illegal to buy and sell slaves using British ships or British ports.
1833: the Emancipation Act ended slavery throughout the British Empire. The Royal Navy also stopped slave ships from other countries, freed the people on board and punished the slave traders.

After 1833, Britain brought in 2 million workers from India and China to take the place of the freed slaves. They were sent to the Caribbean to work on sugar plantations, to South Africa to work in the mines, to East Africa to build railways, and to Kenya to serve in the army.

Key facts

Slavery was illegal in Britain itself, but in the 18th century the overseas slave trade was dominated by Britain and its North American colonies.
Slaves came mainly from West Africa and were taken to tobacco and sugar plantations in America and the Caribbean.
The Quakers set up the first formal anti-slavery groups in the late 18th century and petitioned Parliament.
William Wilberforce: an evangelical Christian and MP who helped turn public opinion.
1807: trading in slaves on British ships or from British ports was banned. 1833: the Emancipation Act abolished slavery throughout the Empire. The Royal Navy stopped other countries' slave ships, freed the slaves and punished the traders.
From 1833, 2 million workers from India and China took the place of freed slaves: on sugar plantations in the Caribbean, in South African mines, on East African railways and in Kenya's army.

Quiz

In which year did the Emancipation Act abolish slavery throughout the British Empire?

Era contents: 1700 – 1800