1. Why was the slave trade abolished?
Lesson starter
What was the biggest barrier to the abolitionist movement? Provide a reason for your answer.
William Wilberforce shown in the 2006 film Amazing Grace

2. I can… We are learning to…
Explain the reasons for the abolition of the slave trade
Prioritise them using evidence
I can…
Take down key facts
Use the key facts to create a priority diagram
Complete an 8 mark Q for homework

3. Background
The Slave Trade was abolished in 1807 by an Act of Parliament
This banned the Slave Trade across the British Empire
What you will be asked is WHY the British government finally decided to end the trade in 1807
There are lots of different factors – you need to know them all AND their importance (i.e. which were more important than others)

4. The factors… William Wilberforce The Abolitionists Economic Arguments
Slave Rebellions

5. William Wilberforce
He is often the man described as having done most for the abolitionist movement
He tried to persuade MPs to end the trade
He had inside influence; access to MPs and parliamentary debates
He campaigned tirelessly for over 20 years
His speeches convinced many to change their views on the slave trade
However; all of the Bills (early stage of a new law) he introduced failed

6. The Abolitionists
They were important because they showed ordinary British people how terrible slavery was.
The Zong case, sugar boycotts, ex-slaves etc all showed the evil of slavery.
In 1806, there was a new government led by Lord Grenville had been persuaded by the Abolitionists to end the slave trade
It was the new government that passed the law to end the slave trade
The actions of Granville Sharp, Thomas Clarkson & Olaudah Equiano had turned public opinion against the trade
Most MPs feared losing their seat if they did not go along with abolition

7. Economic Arguments
The slave trade was ended because it was not making as much money as it once had e.g. the boycott of slave grown products like sugar, tobacco etc. was hurting the slave owners.
Making sugar in the West Indies was a difficult business; frightened and badly treated slaves did not make for good workers.
Natural disasters like hurricanes and epidemics of disease were common and affected production
India was starting to produce sugar more cheaply using paid workers.
Also the Industrial Revolution in Britain (1800s) meant people were switching to making money in less risky ways.
New industries like coal, iron, textiles (cloth making) did not depend on slavery and made big profits

8. Slave Rebellions
The actions of the slaves had an important part in bringing an end to slavery e.g. slave rebellions were becoming more common in the West Indies
The revolution in Haiti ( ) inspired many other slaves
Slaves were becoming more rebellious and violent which scared plantation owners
Some politicians began to ask could Britain afford to keep troops on all the slave islands.

9. Case Study: Haiti
In this French colony over 100 sugar plantations were established
Haiti was the main destination for French slave ships
Average life span of a slave in Haiti was 7 years
Easy access to slaves coupled with soaring profits from cash crops created a situation in which the slave population of Haiti vastly outnumbered free colonists.
As time wore on, the slaves, who outnumbered the free population more than 10 to 1, began to organize.
Eventually, their organization led to a bloody slave revolt the Haitian Revolution between 1791 – 1804 that cost many lives.

10. Priority Diagram – Reasons for Abolition
Use the four factors which led to the abolition of the slave trade to complete a priority diagram
Put them in order of MOST IMPORTANT > LEAST IMPORTANT
You must explain why each one is in the place you have chosen
Wilberforce
Economic Arguments
Slave Rebellions
The Abolitionists
Reason1
Reason 2
Reason 3
Reason 4

11. 8 mark Question N5
How Important was William Wilberforce in the abolition of the slave trade in 1807? marks
5 marks for knowledge
1 mark for putting in paragraphs
1 mark for coming to a conclusion
1 mark for backing conclusion up with evidence

12. Structure help
Paragraph 1– issue in Q William Wilberforce was important to the abolition of the slave trade because… x as many points as you have Paragraph 2 – other issues Another important factor was _____ because…. x as many points as you need up to 5 Paragraph 3 - conclusion In conclusion, the most important reason for the abolition of the slave trade was _______. This is because ______.