History
Our History pages tell the story of Parliament's role in the abolition of the slave trade in 1807.
They also explore Parliamentary involvement in the wider story of the slave trade and slavery. We might today think of Parliament as an abolitionist legislature, but throughout the 17th and 18th centuries it was instrumental in shaping the progress and development of the transatlantic slave system. These histories give context to the archive.
The Wider World
What attracted English traders to Africa and the Americas and what risks did they take? How was Parliament involved?
Parliament and the Economy
Goods linked to slave trading became staples of British life from the 1600s. Parliament was under pressure to support this trade.
The Africa Trade
Africa became a lucrative source of income for Europeans as Parliament passed Acts to encourage and regulate the slave trade.
The Westminster Village
Westminster was a hive of activity, bringing together key players in the story of the abolition of the slave trade.
The Beginnings of Abolition
The abolition movement in England began in earnest in the 1780s, but faced a protracted and difficult struggle.
Petitioning Parliament
Varied interest groups and petitioning movements gathered momentum, both for and against the trade.
Enquiry
The collection of evidence by Parliament and the state was central to the development of arguments in favour of abolition.
Parliament Abolishes the Slave Trade
Key events of 1806 and 1807 as the Abolition Bill was debated and finally passed by Parliament.
