Essay On What Was The Most Important Reason For The Abolitionists

The work of the abolitionists was the most important reason for the abolition of slavery and slave trade. Do you agree?

In 1807, an Act of Parliament abolished the trade of slaves in the British colonies. However, it was not until 1833 that an act was passed to free all slaves in Britain’s colonies. The enslaved received no compensation for their sufferings or for having their freedom denied. On the other hand, the plantation owners did receive compensation from the British government for the loss of their ‘property’. Even then, slavery did not stop completely or straight away. It continued on the cotton plantations in some parts of USA. In this essay, I will be discussing whether work of abolitionists was the most important reason for end of slavery.
Some people may believe that the abolition of slavery and the slave trade was due to the work of black people as they were the first to campaign. The black people resisted slavery and protested against the practice. Rebellions on ship were common and expected, and the Middle Passage became dangerous for crews. Slave traders then ordered
for more shackles and arms to hold their captives. On many occasions, rebellion on ships consisted of jumping overboard instead of continuing to tolerate slavery. In Jamaica became a home for many as freed or escaped slaves set up their own communities and at times attacked British settlers. One of the most important factors in the campaign for the abolition of slavery was in 1831-1832, when there was a serious uprising in Jamaica . Many Africans resisted in non- violent ways. Their acts of resistance often cleverly used the white view of black people being clumsy, lazy and stupid. For example, they stole from their owner, robbed him of his property or profit, damaged machinery, self mutilation, poisoned their owner and practised their religious beliefs. Religion and traditional customs were seen as a threat as it gave Africans faith which could lead to rebelling. Drumming was banned because they sometime used this to communicate secretly. Sometimes, slaves ran away for a few days and came back to humiliate their owner. However, slaves could only do so much as they were punished very severely. A number of freed slaves spoke out for the black community and were active in the campaign against slavery. They become respected personalities and the most famous was Olaudah Equiano who learned English and bought his freedom. The black people did so much and were not afraid even after their severe punishments.
On the other hand, others may believe that the abolitionists were the most important factor, because without them abolition might only have only happened much later or the efforts of black people alone would have been unsuccessful as they would not be heard.
A major focus of the campaign, and of the abolition pamphlets, was the horror of the middle passage. Some abolitionists bought shackles and a device for force-feeding slaves who went on hunger strike, to provide physical evidence of abuse. Abolitionists used techniques like this to notify and shock the public. The 18th century images were essential for their understanding of the arguments for abolition. The Brookes image achieved success in1788 when an Act of Parliament, Dolben Act, limited the number of slaves that could be carried according to the ship’s size. This is proof that there methods work and have done so
much.
Many people believe that it took economic and political factors like war and changes in trade to bring about the reform the abolitionists and black people had been calling for. Without these developments the arguments for slavery might have remained strong and the economic value might have outweighed the arguments against slavery. By the early 19th century it was much cheaper to get sugar from India and the East. Therefore the sugar trade with the Caribbean became less important, plantations closed down and the demand for slaves fell. With fewer people making massive profits there were fewer people to argue in favour of slavery. Also in times of war, many black slaves joined the British West Indies Regiments and helped to defend Britain’s Caribbean colonies. So it was difficult to excuse the existence of slavery when these men had helped Britain.
Overall I disagree, I think the most important reason for the abolition of slavery and the slave trade are the black people because if it wasn’t for their first ever campaign and their protests than slavery would have existed. They made direct impact on slave owners and slaves who had their freedom shared their traumatic experiences with the world and this changed the view about slavery.