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Why was Wilberforce important in ending the Slave Trade in 1807?

Why was Wilberforce important in ending the Slave Trade in 1807?. Objectives. In this activity you will: Explore the importance of Wilberforce in ending slavery and the slave trade. Understand the role of other abolitionists. Why was Wilberforce important in ending the Slave Trade in 1807?.

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Why was Wilberforce important in ending the Slave Trade in 1807?

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  1. Why was Wilberforce important in ending the Slave Trade in 1807?

  2. Objectives In this activity you will: • Explore the importance of Wilberforce in ending slavery and the slave trade. • Understand the role of other abolitionists.

  3. Why was Wilberforce important in ending the Slave Trade in 1807? • Wilberforce was a Member of Parliament (MP). • He delivered important speeches arguing for the ending of the Slave Trade. • He worked closely with a religious group known as the Quakers who also opposed the Slave Trade. • Quakers were not allowed to be MPs. • Wilberforce was a member of the Church of England and therefore was not prevented from being an MP.

  4. Why was Wilberforce important in ending the Slave Trade in 1807? • Not all MPs supported the abolition of the Slave Trade. • Many MPs had businesses connected to the Slave Trade. • They feared the abolition of the Slave Trade would damage their businesses. • For example, freed slaves would be more expensive to employ on sugar plantations in the West Indies and this would make sugar more expensive to buy.

  5. In 1791, Wilberforce introduced his first bill to Parliament, which called for the abolition of the Slave Trade in the West Indies. • The bill was defeated, but Wilberforce continued campaigning for abolition. • He worked with other supporters of abolition, such as: • Thomas Clarkson - Olaudah Equiano • Granville Sharp - Charles James Fox • In 1807, Parliament finally agreed to abolish the Slave Trade in the West Indies.

  6. Why was Wilberforce important in ending the Slave Trade in 1807? Wilberforce used speeches to gain support for abolition. Imagine you are William Wilberforce. Write a speech that supports the abolition of the Slave Trade. • Your speech will be delivered in Parliament and is designed to convince MPs to vote for your bill, which supports the abolition of the Slave Trade. • Now read out your speech to the rest of the class (remember to deliver your speech with passion and emotion). • Once everyone has finished reading their speeches, discuss whose speech was the most convincing and why it was so effective.

  7. Why was Wilberforce important in ending the Slave Trade in 1807? Using your textbook and other resources, find out how the following men contributed to the abolition of the Slave Trade: • Thomas Clarkson • Olaudah Equiano • Granville Sharp • Charles James Fox

  8. Why was Wilberforce important in ending the Slave Trade in 1807? • After 1807, slavery continued to exist in many parts of the world and within the British Empire. Wilberforce did not support the immediate freeing of all slaves. He believed that with the abolition of the Slave Trade, slavery would disappear gradually. • However, in the mid 1820s he was persuaded to support the abolition of all slaves and all slavery. This campaign was supported by slave revolts in the West Indies. • In 1831, a widespread slave revolt occurred in Jamaica. The revolt was crushed. However, the revolt persuaded the British Government, led by Earl Grey, to abolish all slaves and all slavery within the British Empire in 1833.

  9. Why was Wilberforce important in ending the Slave Trade in 1807? Do you now know how the Slave Trade was abolished? To what extent was William Wilberforce the most important person responsible for the abolition of slavery?

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