Slavery
It may seem extraordinary today but, just less than 200 years ago, many people throughout Europe, Africa and the Americas saw nothing wrong in the idea that one human being could own another. The ‘owned' person or ‘slave' had no rights.
In this section:
You will find background information on the history of African enslavement: how the Transatlantic Slave Trade developed, British involvement in the Slave Trade, how a movement arose to try to abolish it and the opposition they faced.
What is Slavery?
Slavery refers to a condition in which individuals are owned by others, who control where they live and at what they work. Slavery had previously existed throughout history, in many times...
Slavery refers to a condition in which individuals are owned by others, who control where they live and at what they work. Slavery had previously existed throughout history, in many times...
Africa Before Transatlantic Slavery
Many Europeans thought that Africa's history was not important. They argued that Africans were inferior to Europeans and they used this to help justify slavery. However, the reality was very...
Many Europeans thought that Africa's history was not important. They argued that Africans were inferior to Europeans and they used this to help justify slavery. However, the reality was very...
The Arrival of European Traders
During the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, European traders started to get involved in the Slave Trade. European traders had previously been interested in African nations and kingdoms,...
During the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, European traders started to get involved in the Slave Trade. European traders had previously been interested in African nations and kingdoms,...
The Triangular Trade
The Transatlantic Slave Trade had three stages: STAGE...
The Transatlantic Slave Trade had three stages: STAGE...
The Middle Passage
The Middle Passage refers to the part of the trade where Africans, densely packed onto ships, were transported across the Atlantic to the West Indies. The voyage...
The Middle Passage refers to the part of the trade where Africans, densely packed onto ships, were transported across the Atlantic to the West Indies. The voyage...
On the Plantations
When enslaved Africans arrived in the Americas, they were often alone, separated from their family and community, unable to communicate with those around them. The following...
When enslaved Africans arrived in the Americas, they were often alone, separated from their family and community, unable to communicate with those around them. The following...
British Involvement in the Transatlantic Slave Trade
For well over 300 years, European countries forced Africans onto slave ships and transported them across the Atlantic Ocean. The first European nation to engage in the...
For well over 300 years, European countries forced Africans onto slave ships and transported them across the Atlantic Ocean. The first European nation to engage in the...
The development of an Abolition Movement
Why did it take so long? Although there was always resistance from the enslaved people themselves, amongst the British population at...
Why did it take so long? Although there was always resistance from the enslaved people themselves, amongst the British population at...
The Pro-Slavery Lobby
What was the Pro-Slavery or West India Lobby?In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the production of sugar in Britain's West Indian...
What was the Pro-Slavery or West India Lobby?In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the production of sugar in Britain's West Indian...
Arguments and Justifications
What were the arguments of the pro-slavery lobby?The pro-slavery lobby put forward a number of arguments to defend the trade and show how...
What were the arguments of the pro-slavery lobby?The pro-slavery lobby put forward a number of arguments to defend the trade and show how...
The 1807 Act and its effects
Why the abolition of the Slave Trade and not Slavery?The members of the Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade decided to...
Why the abolition of the Slave Trade and not Slavery?The members of the Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade decided to...
Why was Slavery finally abolished in the British Empire?
In July 1833, a Bill to abolish slavery throughout the British...
In July 1833, a Bill to abolish slavery throughout the British...
Suppressing the trade
After the 1807 act, the British no longer participated in the slave-trade but illegal traders continued to smuggle enslaved people to the British West Indies, and to plantations owned by...
After the 1807 act, the British no longer participated in the slave-trade but illegal traders continued to smuggle enslaved people to the British West Indies, and to plantations owned by...
Slavery Timeline
The timeline provides a visual record of the progress of Trans-atlantic Slavery and the movement to abolish it. Events are classified into different...
The timeline provides a visual record of the progress of Trans-atlantic Slavery and the movement to abolish it. Events are classified into different...