The Committee for the Abolition
History: KS3, topic 9.1.6
The Committee for the Abolition of the Slave Trade
This committee was established to abolish the slave trade.
William Wilberforce
- The Committee for the Abolition of the Slave Trade was led by William Wilberforce.
- Wilberforce was an MP. He was an ‘evangelical’ Christian. He was very religious and was very interested in social reform.
- Wilberforce argued that it was not right to own people.
The Abolitionist movement
- Some people in Britain boycotted goods produced by the slave trade, such as sugar.
- They also wrote letters to Parliament and formed petitions.
- Campaigners wrote pamphlets criticising horrors of the slave trade, such as the Zong affair in 1781. Olaudah Equiano is known as one of the leaders publicising the Zong affair in Britain.
- This was when slaves were thrown overboard a ship (the Zong) in order for the captain to claim the insurance.
Was the slave trade becoming less profitable?
- By the end of the 18th century, profits for slave traders were less than at the beginning of the century.
Test yourself on The Committee for the Abolition
Who led the Committee for the Abolition of the Slave Trade?