Abolition Disguised as National Interest: Parliamentary Evangelicals and the Abolishment of the British Slave Trade
Disciplines
African History | European History | United States History
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Historians have considered a variety of possible reasons for the British Abolition of the slave trade, many of which labeled either focusing on economics, gaining popularity amongst the masses, or sheer Evangelical virtue as the cause. However, scholars often fail to consider the climate of war present in 1807 and how decisions related to the war greatly affected the profitability of the trade. Furthermore, it is often not acknowledged how the members of parliament involved in the said decision were staunch Evangelicals and subsequently abolitionists, as were those who associated with them. Men such as William Wilberforce and James Stephen were able to rally support for policies that were disguised as acts to defend national interests at a time of war, namely the reinstatement of the Rule of 1756 in 1805. In reality, these acts crippled the slave trade. The abolishment of slavery was a very important issue in Wilberforce’s circle, which is also known as the “Clapham Sect”. Despite popular interests among the Evangelical base and Economic factors, the manipulation of Parliament under the guise of national interest by the Clapham Sect served to be the most efficient and seemingly the most crucial factor in ending the British Slave Trade.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
RCHSS - History & Philosophy
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Amy Dunagin
Abolition Disguised as National Interest: Parliamentary Evangelicals and the Abolishment of the British Slave Trade
Historians have considered a variety of possible reasons for the British Abolition of the slave trade, many of which labeled either focusing on economics, gaining popularity amongst the masses, or sheer Evangelical virtue as the cause. However, scholars often fail to consider the climate of war present in 1807 and how decisions related to the war greatly affected the profitability of the trade. Furthermore, it is often not acknowledged how the members of parliament involved in the said decision were staunch Evangelicals and subsequently abolitionists, as were those who associated with them. Men such as William Wilberforce and James Stephen were able to rally support for policies that were disguised as acts to defend national interests at a time of war, namely the reinstatement of the Rule of 1756 in 1805. In reality, these acts crippled the slave trade. The abolishment of slavery was a very important issue in Wilberforce’s circle, which is also known as the “Clapham Sect”. Despite popular interests among the Evangelical base and Economic factors, the manipulation of Parliament under the guise of national interest by the Clapham Sect served to be the most efficient and seemingly the most crucial factor in ending the British Slave Trade.