2017-03-25 Sat

The British Parliament passed an Act Abolishing the Slave Trade throughout the British Empire on 25th March 1807. However, it was not till 1838 that slavery finally got abolished. Even after being abolished, it still continued in some areas and abolitionists continued their struggle to fight against it.

The slave trade refers to the transatlantic trading patterns established by the mid-17th century. Ships full of manufactured goods would set sail from Europe to Africa where it would sell young and healthy African slaves captured by African traders.

The ship would return to their land via the notorious ‘Middle Passage’ along with cargoes of rum, sugar and other luxury items and slaves hidden in the ship’s hold with hardly any space for movement. Most slaves would not survive this voyage yet it has been estimated that approximately 480,000 people were enslaved in the British Colonies by 1790s.

Those in favor of the slave trade argued and pointed out its economic benefits. Despite this, campaigns against slave trade began by the 18th century. However, trading was very profitable for those involved and they fiercely opposed the abolitionists using persuasive arguments, or 'propaganda' to indicate the necessity of the slave trade and to further their cause.

The slaves themselves played an active role in this fight for their freedom. Slaves in the French colony of St Domingue seized control of the island and eventually declared it to be the republic of Haiti.

Royal Mail issued this first-day cover, set of 6 commemorative stamps on 22nd March 2007 featuring pioneers of this campaign- William Wilberforce, Olaudah Equiano, Granville Sharp, Thomas Clarkson, Hannah More and Ignatius Sancho.