Here’s a contrast of key events and personalities involved in the abolition of slavery in Britain and the United States:
Abolition of Slavery in Britain
Key Events:
1. 1772 – Somerset v. Stewart Case: This legal case established that slavery was unsupported by English law, setting a precedent that slaves could not be forcibly taken abroad.
2. 1787 – Formation of the Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade: This group was instrumental in raising public awareness and lobbying for change.
3. 1807 – Abolition of the Slave Trade Act: This act banned the transatlantic slave trade in the British Empire.
4. 1833 – Slavery Abolition Act: This act abolished slavery throughout most of the British Empire, with an apprenticeship system that ended in 1838.
Key Personalities:
1. William Wilberforce: A leading member of Parliament and a prominent abolitionist, he was instrumental in the campaign to end the slave trade and slavery.
2. Thomas Clarkson: An abolitionist who collected evidence against the slave trade and organized public campaigns.
3. Olaudah Equiano: A former slave whose autobiography helped expose the realities of slavery to the British public.
4. Granville Sharp: A lawyer and activist who played a key role in the Somerset case and early abolitionist efforts.
Abolition of Slavery in the United States
Key Events:
1. 1776 – Declaration of Independence: While it declared “all men are created equal,” slavery persisted, highlighting a contradiction that fueled future debates.
2. 1820 – Missouri Compromise: This was an early attempt to manage the spread of slavery in new states.
3. 1850s – Dred Scott Decision and Kansas-Nebraska Act: Both events exacerbated tensions over slavery’s expansion and legality.
4. 1861-1865 – Civil War: A conflict fundamentally driven by the issue of slavery and its expansion into new territories.
5. 1863 – Emancipation Proclamation: Issued by President Lincoln, it declared the freedom of slaves in Confederate states.
6. 1865 – 13th Amendment: Officially abolished slavery in the United States.
Key Personalities:
1. Frederick Douglass: A former slave and influential abolitionist, orator, and writer who advocated for the end of slavery and equal rights.
2. Harriet Beecher Stowe: Author of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” her work galvanized anti-slavery sentiment in the North.
3. Abraham Lincoln: The 16th President, whose leadership during the Civil War was pivotal in the abolition of slavery.
4. William Lloyd Garrison: A prominent abolitionist who published the anti-slavery newspaper “The Liberator.”
5. John Brown: An abolitionist who believed in armed insurrection to overthrow the institution of slavery, leading the raid on Harpers Ferry.
Contrast
• Legislative Process: In Britain, the abolition was primarily achieved through parliamentary legislation without a major war. In the U.S., it involved a civil war, reflecting deeper regional divides.
• Key Figures: British abolition relied heavily on parliamentary advocates and public campaigners, while the U.S. movement included activists, writers, and politicians, culminating in presidential action.
• Public Campaigns: Both nations had strong public movements, but Britain’s campaigns were more focused on moral persuasion, while the U.S. campaigns often highlighted the political and economic aspects of slavery.
• Timeframe: Britain’s abolition occurred earlier and more swiftly, while the U.S. struggled with the issue over decades, ultimately requiring a war to resolve it.
These differences illustrate the distinct social, political, and economic contexts in which each country’s abolition movement unfolded.
William Wilberforce’s policy and abolitionist efforts were significantly influenced by his relationship with John Newton.
Influence of John Newton on William Wilberforce:
1. Spiritual Mentor: John Newton, a former slave trader who became a clergyman and abolitionist, played a crucial role in Wilberforce’s spiritual life. Newton’s guidance helped deepen Wilberforce’s Christian faith, which became a central motivation for his commitment to social reform, including the abolition of slavery.
2. Moral Perspective: Newton’s personal transformation from a slave trader to an outspoken critic of the slave trade provided Wilberforce with a powerful example of redemption and moral clarity. Newton’s experiences and insights into the horrors of the slave trade helped shape Wilberforce’s understanding of the issue and strengthened his resolve to fight against it.
3. Support and Encouragement: Newton encouraged Wilberforce to use his position in Parliament to advocate for social justice and the abolition of the slave trade. His famous hymn “Amazing Grace,” which reflects his own journey from sin to salvation, became a symbol of the abolitionist cause and inspired many, including Wilberforce.
4. Public Advocacy: Newton’s writings and sermons on the immorality of the slave trade provided Wilberforce with intellectual and moral arguments to present in Parliament. Newton’s pamphlet, “Thoughts Upon the African Slave Trade” (1788), was a critical resource for the abolitionist movement and directly influenced Wilberforce’s speeches and legislative efforts.
In summary, John Newton’s personal transformation, moral teachings, and encourage manager played a pivotal role in shaping William Wilberforce’s policies and commitment to the abolition of the slave trade in Britain.

https://smudgyguide.net/slavery-and-the-sugar-boycott/
If economic pressure could be put on slave-dependent industries, then this might accelerate end of the trade. An anti-sugar pamphlet by William Fox (not a Quaker) was published in 1791 and used strong rhetoric in its argument, such as the following:
“If we purchase the commodity we participate in the crime. The slave dealer, the slave holder, and the slave driver, are virtually agents of the consumer, and may be considered as employed and hired by him to procure the commodity … In every pound of sugar used we may be considered as consuming two ounces of human flesh”
William Fox
Running into 25 editions and sellling 250,000 copies across both sides of the Atlanticw, it was an instant bestseller that caught the public’s imagination – and would go on to be the bestselling pamphlet of the 19th-century.
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