1. The Abolitionists Lesson starter
Think about all the awful things you have learned about the slave trade. Why do you think it was allowed to go on for so many years?
Write a list of your ideas.

2. We are learning to…
describe the case of the Zong explain how it led to the formation of the abolitionist movement
I can…
Answer questions on the Zong
Discuss some arguments in the abolition of the slave trade

3. Changing Attitudes to the Slave Trade
Many people supported the slave trade as they believed:
Ending the slave trade would damage the British economy.
Britain had to remain competitive and ending the use of enslaved people would allow competitors to step in.
Enslaved people in the West Indies had an easy time compared to poor British families.
Slave merchants create Britain’s wealth and invest into banks and other enterprises, which then trickles down to everyone.
British people deserve to have a choice to buy slave produced sugar, tobacco and rum if they want to.
However, During the late 17th/18th century more and more people wanted to abolish the trade.
They were known as the Abolitionists.
The Zong disaster was one shocking event which got peoples’ attention.

4. The Zong Slave ship owned by William Gregson Left Liverpool in 1781
Experienced Captain – Luke Collingwood
Insured for £8000
Left West Africa on 6 September – headed for Jamaica with 442 slaves

5. Task: Read p69-70 on the case of the Zong and answer the questions in pairs.
What happened to the ship on its way to Jamaica?
What was Captain Collingwood’s plan?
How were the 132 slaves killed?
What two pieces of evidence did the insurance company use to refuse to pay £30 per slave?
What did lawyer John Lee compare the slaves to?
What was the public reaction to the case of the Zong?

6. The Zong - Key Point
Even those who had previously turned a blind eye to the slave trade were shocked and appalled at the case of the Zong.
It would be used to justify abolishing the slave trade and to get sympathy for the Africans sold into slavery.

7. Who were the Abolitionists?
People such as the Quakers (religious group) – they had been pointing out the slave trade was evil for years and banned anyone with involvement from their group.
Granville Sharp (a civil servant) and Thomas Clarkson (Cambridge educated) – two well educated young men who were inspired to abolish slavery after the case of the Zong.
Sharp and Clarkson held a meeting and formally founded the Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade in 1787.

9. It would be a difficult fight… arguments for keeping the trade
If Britain stepped out of the slave trade, European competitors might just step in – war with France seemed likely.
Ending the trade would damage the British economy
Some argued slaves didn’t have too bad a life compared to some poor British families
The wealth made by the trade improved the life of all in Britain, not just the slave traders
British people wanted tobacco, rum and sugar; they should get them