Amazing Grace

William Wilberforce

• Amazing Grace is a 2006 film about the campaign against the slave trade in 18th century Britain, led by William Wilberforce, who was responsible for steering anti-slave trade legislation through the British parliament.

British Abolitionists: Clarkson

• Thomas Clarkson (1760 –1846), abolitionist, was born at Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, England, and became a leading campaigner against the slave trade in the British Empire.

British Abolitionists: Hannah Moore

• Hannah More (2 February 1745 – 7 September 1833) was an English religious writer and philanthropist who opposed the slave trade in Britain.

William Pitt Opposed Slave Trade

• William Pitt, the Younger (1759 –1806) was a British politician of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. He became the youngest Prime Minister in 1783 at the age of 24.

Document: African Prince Olaudah Equiano Survives Middle Passage

• The first political leader of Britain’s black community, Equiano was born in Nigeria and kidnapped by slave traders at the age of 11.

• A plaque was unveiled in October 2000 to celebrate his role in the abolition of slavery.

• He lived at 73 Riding House Street, W1, where he wrote his autobiography, the 'Interesting Narrative.'

Evil Middle Passage

• Equiano wrote about his experience with the Middle Passage.

John Newton

• The title is a reference to the hymn "Amazing Grace" and the film also recounts John Newton's writing of the hymn.

British Parliament Abolishes Slave Trade

• The Slave Trade Act received the Royal Assent on 25 March 1807.

How long had the Atlantic Slave Trade lasted? How many Africans?

• From the 15th century to the 19th century?

•15-20 million Africans

Where did the Africans come from?

Where did the Africans end up in the New World?

Two Decades of Agitation

Motivation of Abolitionists

•EvangelicalChristianity

• The Slave Trade was a social sin and moral evil that ought to be abolished.

Motivation of British Parliament

• Self-Interest of British law makers. •?

Self-Interest?• How would

abolishing slavery help advance and modernize the British Empire?

• White British leaders saw that slavery was an outdated labor system that would not work in a future industrialized, modernized empire.

The vote in Parliament: 1807

• The Slave Trade Act passed the House of Commons by a vote of 283 votes to 16.

Next Step: Abolish Slavery

• Slavery did not wither with the end of the slave trade in the British Empire, nor did the living conditions of the enslaved improve.

Enforcing the ban on the Slave Trade

• The British Royal Navy patrolled the Atlantic intercepting slave ships from other countries.

US abolishes African Slave Trade: 1808

• US Constitution put a 20 year limit on the international slave trade.

1833: Parliament Abolishes Slavery in the British Empire

•Slavery Abolition Act of 1833

• When does the United States abolish the institution of racial slavery?

What was the legacy of slavery?

• The legacy of slavery was centuries of white supremacy and white violence in the United States and the modern Western world.

Legacy: White Racial Hatred

The Slave System forged a unique African culture

• The Slave Community: Cultural Elements• 19th Century Black Identity• Common Theme: Black solidarity and

resistance1. Black family: Backbone of the community2. Religion: Provided leaders hope3. Folklore: Psychological payback4. Music and Dance: Emotional release