Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade facts for kids
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| Formation | May 22, 1787 |
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| Dissolved | January 1, 1807 |
| Headquarters | 2 George Yard |
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Official language
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English |
The Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade was a British group formed on May 22, 1787. Its main goal was to stop the slave trade. This means they wanted to end the buying and selling of enslaved people.
The society successfully achieved its goal in 1807. Later, in 1833, slavery itself was ended in all British colonies. Some historians believe this anti-slavery movement was the first peaceful social movement of its kind. It set an example for many other movements that followed.
Contents
Stopping the Slave Trade
The Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade was a very important group. It worked to end the cruel practice of buying and selling people. This practice, known as the slave trade, brought millions of Africans to the Americas.
Early Efforts Against Slavery
Even before the Society formed, some people spoke out against slavery. In 1688, Dutch and German Quakers in Pennsylvania wrote the first anti-slavery statement. Quakers in England also began to oppose the slave trade in 1727. They encouraged others to improve conditions for enslaved people. They also wanted to teach them and eventually set them free.
In 1783, a group of six Quakers in London presented a petition to Parliament. A petition is a formal request signed by many people. This petition asked Parliament to stop the Atlantic slave trade. They were also influenced by a terrible event called the Zong massacre. In this event, more than 132 enslaved people were killed on a ship.
How the Society Started
In 1787, many people around the world were enslaved. While there were no enslaved people in Britain itself, most British people accepted slavery in their colonies.
The Quakers decided to form a new group to gain more support. This new group included both Quakers and Anglicans. Quakers were not allowed to be Members of Parliament. Having Anglican members helped the group influence Parliament more easily. The new group was called the Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade.
The society was founded by twelve men. Nine of them were Quakers. These included John Barton, William Dillwyn, and James Phillips. The three Anglican founders were Thomas Clarkson, Granville Sharp, and Philip Sansom. Thomas Clarkson and Granville Sharp later became very famous for their work.
What the Society Did
The society's main goal was to stop Britain's involvement in the international slave trade. They wanted to show people how cruel the trade was.
Spreading the Word
The society worked hard to inform the public about the terrible treatment of enslaved Africans. They wanted a new law to abolish the slave trade across the British Empire.
They used many methods to achieve their goals:
- They wrote and published anti-slavery books, posters, and pamphlets.
- They organized lecture tours in towns and cities across England.
- Thomas Clarkson's book, Essay on the Impolicy of the African Slave Trade, was one of the first important books on the topic.
Public Campaigns
The society also used petitions and rallies to gain support. They presented over 100 petitions to the House of Commons in 1788.
They also created anti-slavery items like medallions and pottery. A famous potter named Josiah Wedgwood made medallions with a powerful image. It showed an enslaved person in chains asking, "Am I Not A Man And A Brother?" This image helped many people understand the injustice of slavery. Ladies wore these medallions as jewelry, making the anti-slavery message popular.
Influential Voices
The society gained many members by educating the public. Thomas Clarkson's speaking tours helped a lot. The autobiography of Olaudah Equiano, a former enslaved African, also raised public awareness. His book showed the horrors of slavery from a personal perspective. Clarkson encouraged the sale of Equiano's book and invited him to speak in British ports.
William Wilberforce, a Member of Parliament, introduced the first bill to abolish the slave trade in 1791. Although it was defeated, he continued to bring the issue to Parliament almost every year. Clarkson and other committee members traveled, raised money, and wrote anti-slavery works to support Wilberforce's efforts.
Who Joined the Society
The society grew and gained more members. The Quaker William Allen joined and worked closely with William Wilberforce. Other important people also supported the society.
Women's Role
Women played a significant role in the anti-slavery movement. About 10 percent of the society's members were women. In some cities, like Manchester, nearly a quarter of the members were women. Many of these women came from leading Quaker or wealthy families. By 1788, there were 206 female members.
Women could not directly participate in Parliament. However, they formed their own anti-slavery societies. Many women were horrified that families were torn apart by slavery. In 1824, Elizabeth Heyrick wrote a pamphlet urging for immediate freedom for enslaved people.
Anne Knight, a Quaker from Essex, was another important female campaigner. She formed the Chelmsford Female Anti-Slavery Society. She also traveled to France to give lectures against slavery. The Birmingham Ladies Society for the Relief of Negro Slaves was founded in Birmingham, England, in 1825.
Success and New Beginnings
In 1807, the British Parliament voted to abolish the international slave trade. This was a huge victory for the society. The Royal Navy was then used to enforce this new law. After this law passed, the society ended its work. The United States also banned the African slave trade in the same year.
In 1808, another law was passed to protect Freetown in West Africa. This colony was established in 1788 as a home for formerly enslaved people. When the Royal Navy stopped illegal slave trading ships, they often resettled the freed Africans in Freetown.
The Next Step: Ending Slavery
From 1823, a new group called the Society for the Mitigation and Gradual Abolition of Slavery Throughout the British Dominions took over. This group worked to abolish slavery itself, not just the trade. They supported efforts to free enslaved people in British colonies. They also helped American abolitionists who were working to end slavery in the United States.
