J.M.W. Turner, Slavers Throwing the Dead and
Dying Overboard, Typhoon Coming On, 1840
The Abolition of Slavery and the Slave Trade
Important Dates:
- 1772: Mansfield Case (No Slave could be forcibly
removed from England)
- 1773: Wheatley's Poems on Various Subjects
published (England)
- 1775: American War for Independence begins
- 1781: Nov-Dec: 131 slaves thrown overboard the slave ship
Zong to allow the owners to collect insurance
- 1783: American War for Independence ends
- 1786: Wheatley's Poems published in U. S.
- 1789: French War for Independence begins
- Equiano's Narrative published (England)
- 1791: Haitian (St. Dominique) War for
Independence begins
- Equiano's Narrative published (America)
- 1793: France abolished slavery in St. Dominique
- 1802: Slavery reestablished by French under
Napoleon
- 1804: Haitian Independence
- 1807: Britain, U.S. abolish slave trade
- 1831: Prince's History published
- 1833: Slavery in British territories "abolished"
- (As of Aug. 1, 1834, for those under six; others become
unpaid "Apprentices" for six year period)
- 1838: July 1: All British slaves freed
- 1863: Emancipation Proclamation in U.S.
- 1865: Thirteenth Amendment to U.S. Constitution
ratified, ending slavery
Homework Questions:
287:
- What was the Mansfield
decision of 1772?
- Why, according to the editors, was it difficult for
antislavery activists to secure legislative action against
slavery or the slave trade?
Thomas Clarkson (1760-1846)
Essay on the Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species
(1788)
290:
- Explain: "What is Christianity but
a system of murder and oppression?" (290).
292:
- Describe the motivations and actions of the captain of the
slave ship Zong in 1781.
Mary Prince (ca. 1788-after 1831)
History of Mary Prince, a West Indian Slave, Related
by Herself (1831)
311:
- How does Prince describe her
childhood experiences of slavery?
312:
- Explain Prince's mother's comment about chickens.
- Explain: "The great God above alone knows the thoughts of
the poor slave's hearts" (312).
313:
- How does Prince describe the slave
market?
314:
- What is the difference, according to Prince, between Mr.
D-- and Capt. I--?
315:
- Explain: "I have been a slave
myself--I know what slaves feel--I can tell by myself what
other slaves feel" (315).
Discussion Questions:
286:
- Describe the "triangular trade" (286).
- In the 1790s, how many Africans were enslaved annually?
- Why, according to the editors, were White Britons
apparently unconcerned about the evils of slavery?
287:
- Describe the "gradualist" approach to abolition.
288:
- Describe the "immediatist" approach to abolition.
Thomas Clarkson:
288:
- Discuss Clarkson's methodology in developing Essay on
the Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species.
291:
- Describe the dimensions of a slave vessel. Why is
Clarkson being so specific in describing these dimensions?
291-92:
- Describe the conditions inside the vessel.
Mary Prince:
310:
- What dilemma do the editors suggest Prince faced while in
England in 1828?
311:
- Why is Prince sold at the age of twelve?
313-14:
- Describe Prince's work in the salt ponds.
314-15:
- What, according to Prince, makes Mr. D-- "indecent"?
316:
- What does Prince identify as her reason for telling her
story?