The abolitionists played a very vital role in the abolition of the slave trade and the abolition of slavery itself. The movement to end slavery began in 1823 with the formation of the Society for Mitigation and Gradual Abolition of Slavery and the efforts continued with the Agency Committee formed in 1831.There were other mitigating circumstances which also favored the abolitionists such as the Reform Act, the economic decline of West India sugar, social unrest of the slaves and the Industrial revolution. All these factors contributed to the gradual ending of slavery in the British West Indies. They were also aware of the huge commercial and economic power of the Caribbean planter interest. By the 1820’s it was obvious that slavery was still well established in the Caribbean.
Facing this reality, the old members …show more content…
The voters were chiefly members of the industrial middle class. The industrialists had no interest in seeing the retention of slavery as their inventions would fill the gap where labour was in short supply. Besides, freed slaves meant cheap labour in their manufacturing plants as well. So it was in the best interest of the Industrialist to stay away from defending slavery. Besides, Britain no longer needed slave-based goods. The country was more able to prosper from new systems which required high efficiency, through free trade and free labour. Cotton, rather than sugar, became the main produce of the British economy and English towns, such as Manchester and Salford, became industrial centers of world