Why was slavery abolished

1
? starter activity
Why was this plaque, designed by Josiah Wedgwood,
so successful in helping to abolish slavery by
British traders?
2
Why was slavery abolished?
3
Why did the slave trade last so long?
Click to compare your answers?
?
4
Why did the slave trade last so long?

• People knew little about Africa
• There were rumours and untruths (e.g. Africans
  were cannibals)
• Africans seen as a sub-species
• Too many people benefited financially
• Christian missionaries hoped to convert slaves

Slave poster, 1769. What does this poster tell us
about European attitudes to African men women?
5
? Your task
Slave trade facts

• Read the fact files and list the ways used by
  abolitionists to end the slave trade.
• Which do you think would have been most
  successful? Why?

6
How did campaigners end the slave trade?

• Meetings
• Books (e.g. Olaudah Equiano)
• Petitions
• Posters
• Cartoons
• Poems
• Letters to newspapers

Why was Olaudah Equiano one of the one successful
abolitionist campaigners?
7
When did slavery eventually end?

• 1807, illegal to for British traders to buy or
  sell humans
• Slaves continued to work in plantations
• 1833, slavery completely abolished
• Other nations followed, e.g. America

William Wilberforce, one of the strongest
campaigners for the abolition of slavery. Why was
he so successful in raising public awareness of
the horrors of the slave trade?
8
? Your task

• Imagine you have been asked by the abolitionists
  to give a speech in Parliament to support the new
  banning the slave trade. Write a speech, (1 side
  A4) including some or all of the following points
• Outline the extent of this horrific trade
• Criticise the supporters of the trade
• Emphasise the human cost of slavery
• Use case studies, e.g. Olaudah Equiano
• Highlight the support the campaign has
• Finish with a powerful and memorable concluding
  statement (e.g. a quote from Wedgwoods plaque)