Slavery

The Abolition of Slavery? : 

The Abolition of Slavery? “Democracy is Hypocrisy. If democracy means freedom, why aren’t our people free? If democracy means justice, why don’t we have justice? If democracy means equality, why don’t we have equality?” Malcolm X (1964)

Abraham Lincoln (1862): 

Abraham Lincoln (1862) “When the white man governs himself that is self-government; but when he governs himself and also another man, that is more than self-government – that is despotism”

Economics of Slavery: 

Economics of Slavery The profits of slavery brought great wealth to Britain It funded the Iron Industry (locks, chains fetters, copper lined ships) to hold slaves It provided worker for the Sugar industry Slave harvested cotton from America supplied UK textile Mills. The Church of England owned slaves and Sugar plantations Kings & Queens of England owned slaves from which they gained much wealth British institutions were funded by slavery

Industrial Revolution : 

Industrial Revolution Sarehole Mill, Birmingham Slavery contributed vastly to Britain's rise as an industrial nation. Slavers needed ships; crews needed provisions; traders needed goods to barter for enslaved Africans – fetters; chains, padlocks, guns, pots, kettles; plantations needed machinery; rum factories needed bottles. Cotton picked by slave labour in New England was manufactured in Lancashire and sold on the colonial market, mostly Africa.

The Bank of England: 

The Bank of England The thriving British economy after 1660 was made possible mainly because of Britain's financial institutions. Trading houses, insurance companies and banks emerged to underpin Britain's overseas trade and empire. The expansion of overseas trade, especially in the Atlantic, relied on credit, and bills of credit (like modern travellers cheques), which were at the heart of the slave trade.

Harewood House: 

Harewood House This is home to Lord Harewood and his family, whose family name is Lascelles. The Lascelles emerged from minor gentry origins in North Yorkshire in the 17th century, but a century later their investment in sugar and enslaving Africans had made them extremely wealthy.

Codrington Library, Oxford: 

Codrington Library, Oxford All Souls College, Oxford, houses one of the city's finest libraries, which is named after a former fellow who had strong Caribbean connections. Christopher Codrington was born in Barbados in 1668. His father was captain-general of the Leeward Islands and one of the wealthiest planters in Barbados. At the time, Barbados was the centre of Britain's slave islands, its sugar plantations disgorging unprecedented wealth based on the labour of enslaved Africans.

Why was Slavery Abolished? : 

Why was Slavery Abolished? Many people were influenced by new ideas of Freedom. Freedom to Vote, freedom to own land, freedom to rule one self. Thomas Paine wrote “The rights of Man” in defence of popular rights Voltaire’s “Candide” satire on the aristocracy of the time. The Quakers – first to organise opposition to slavery English Revolution 1642 - denied the idea of “Divine Right of Kings” American Revolution 1776 -“We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal” French Revolution 1789 – “Liberté Égalité, Fraternité”

Reasons for the Slave Trade Ending: 

Reasons for the Slave Trade Ending Industrial Revolution meant machines began to replace need for slaves Move from Agricultural economy to Capitalism meant increased cost in holding slaves Sugar Rebellions in West Indies American Civil War 1862-4

Toussaint L’Ouverture: 

Toussaint L’Ouverture Toussaint freed black slaves from French rule and founded the independent state of Haiti after a dozen years of bloody rebellion Eliminated France as a major slaveholding power The rebellion Destroyed British argument “if we end Slavery the French will take over.”

Olaudah Equiano : 

Olaudah Equiano Olaudah Equiano,  later to be known as (Gustavus Vassa) was born in what is Today Nigeria,  Kidnapped from his African village at the age of eleven,  and sold to a Virginia planter. He was later bought by a British naval Officer, Captain Pascal, as a present for his cousins in London.  Equiano bought his freedom after ten years of enslavement At the age of forty four he wrote and published his autobiography, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, The African. 1789 More than two centuries later, this work is recognised as one of the first works published in England by an African. He is unique in his recollection of traditional African life before the advent of the European slave trade.

James Stephen: 

James Stephen Unusual life story. Spent youth in debtors prison As a young London dandy he found himself simultaneously engaged to two women (one of whom was pregnant), while having an affair with a third. Stephen fled to the West Indies to make his fortune. At Barbados in 1783, he attended a trial where several enslaved people - widely thought to be innocent - were found guilty of murder and sentenced to be burned alive. The horror Stephen felt changed his life, and views of slavery. Great Granddaugter - Virginia Woolf.

Granville Sharp: 

Granville Sharp Jonathan Strong was a slave abandoned by his master, named Lisle, due to poor health caused by many floggings. Strong found by Granville Sharp brought him back to health. Seen in the street Jonathan was now seized in the street and imprisoned by Lisle who then sold him to a plantation owner. Sharp had Strong released only to be sued by Lisle for damages. Case of the Zong(1781) Slaves showed were simply Chattels in eyes of the law. Made Sharp a committed abolitionist.

William Wilberforce: 

William Wilberforce Born in 1759 to a life of privilege and wealth Religious, friend of PM Wm. Pitt the Younger Saw slavery as a moral outrage worked hard to have it banned. Died in 1833 one month before slavery abolished. Credited with being the father of Anti-slavery Interest in Wilberforce is rapidly growing in England. Last November, PM Tony Blair issued a statement of regret for the British slave trade. In a New Year’s Day broadcast on BBC, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, commended Wilberforce and his colleagues for fighting for justice and human rights.

Slavery officially Ended: 

Slavery officially Ended 1787 Committee for Abolition of slavery formed 1807 No British ship could carry slaves or profit by their sale 1833 Slavery fully abolished in the British Empire and all slaves set free. Slavery continued in America and was a major cause of the American Civil War.

Debate: 

Debate Why was Wiberforce credited with the end of Slavery? What about the many others mentioned here? What about womens role in anti-slavery? Things to consider a) social status and power b) Racism?

Has Slavery Ended in the World?: 

Has Slavery Ended in the World? What is Slavery? “To be a slave is to be controlled by another person so that your will does not determine your life’s course, and rewards for your work and sacrifices are not yours to claim. According to Kevin Bates “people are enslaved by violence and held against their wills for purposes of exploitation”

Slide18: 

This man waiting on the Congo Shore to be shipped and sold was photographed in 1934

Modern Slavery: 

Modern Slavery The last country to abolish slavery was the African state of Mauritania, in 1981 There are more slaves than ever before, but they are a smaller proportion of the human race Slavery is illegal everywhere and so requires corruption and crime to continue Slaves are cheaper than ever and can generate high economic returns. Bonded labour or debt bondage Migrant workers often become bonded labour to pay off those who smuggled them to the new country - they dare not break free for fear of being deported Child Slavery, marital and Sexual Slavery

Links: 

Links BBC on Slavery http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/empire_seapower/antislavery_01.shtml http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/ethics/slavery/modern/modern_1.shtml Child Slavery http://www.infoplease.com/spot/slavery1.html Modern Slavery http://www.antislavery.org/homepage/antislavery/modern.htm

Slide21: 

Earth as seen from the Moon (Apollo 2 ) Our world is small and fragile We are all one people on this planet. We need to work together, not oppress other for the sake of all our futures!