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Slave Trade Act 1807 Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge

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Study Guide: The British Slave Trade Act of 1807: Historical Context and Impact

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The British Slave Trade Act of 1807: Historical Context and Impact Study Guide

The Slave Trade Act 1807: Legislation and Immediate Effects

The Slave Trade Act of 1807 effectively prohibited the Atlantic slave trade within the British Empire; however, it did not mandate the immediate emancipation of individuals already held in bondage.

Answer: True

Explanation: The Slave Trade Act of 1807 specifically targeted the cessation of the transatlantic slave trade by British subjects and vessels. It did not, however, address the institution of slavery itself, which continued in British colonies until the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833.

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The Slave Trade Act 1807 received Royal Assent on March 25, 1807, and became effective on the same day.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Slave Trade Act 1807 received Royal Assent on March 25, 1807, but it officially took effect on May 1, 1807, not on the same day as its assent.

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During the decade spanning 1791 to 1800, British maritime vessels engaged in approximately 1,340 voyages, facilitating the transport of nearly 400,000 enslaved individuals.

Answer: True

Explanation: The scale of the slave trade in the decade preceding the 1807 Act was substantial, with British ships undertaking numerous voyages and transporting hundreds of thousands of enslaved Africans, underscoring the economic importance and magnitude of the trade prior to its prohibition.

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The vessel known as the *Kitty's Amelia* represented the final British ship to legally engage in the transport of enslaved individuals, completing its voyage on July 27, 1807.

Answer: True

Explanation: The *Kitty's Amelia* received clearance to sail before the Slave Trade Act 1807 took effect on May 1, 1807. Consequently, its voyage on July 27, 1807, marked the last legally sanctioned slave transport by a British vessel.

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The territorial jurisdiction of the Slave Trade Act 1807 was confined exclusively to Great Britain itself.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Slave Trade Act 1807 applied to the entire British Empire, encompassing all territories under British control at the time of its enactment.

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What was the principal legislative objective of the Slave Trade Act of 1807?

Answer: To prohibit the Atlantic slave trade within the British Empire.

Explanation: The primary legislative aim of the Slave Trade Act of 1807 was to abolish the transatlantic slave trade, thereby ending the legal transport of enslaved individuals by British vessels.

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When did the Slave Trade Act 1807 officially come into effect?

Answer: May 1, 1807

Explanation: The Slave Trade Act 1807, having received Royal Assent on March 25, 1807, officially commenced its operation on May 1, 1807.

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Which legislative body enacted the Slave Trade Act 1807?

Answer: The Parliament of the United Kingdom

Explanation: The Slave Trade Act 1807 was passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom, signifying a major legislative achievement for the abolitionist movement within the British Empire.

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What was the official long title of the Slave Trade Act 1807?

Answer: An Act for the Abolition of the Slave Trade

Explanation: The formal title of the legislation passed in 1807 was 'An Act for the Abolition of the Slave Trade,' clearly indicating its primary purpose.

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Which vessel undertook the last legal slave voyage for a British ship after the Slave Trade Act 1807?

Answer: The *Kitty's Amelia*

Explanation: The *Kitty's Amelia* completed the final legally sanctioned slave voyage for a British vessel on July 27, 1807, having secured clearance prior to the Act's effective date of May 1, 1807.

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What was the territorial extent of the Slave Trade Act 1807?

Answer: The British Empire

Explanation: The Slave Trade Act 1807 was enacted to apply across the entirety of the British Empire, extending its prohibition of the slave trade to all territories under British jurisdiction.

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Key Figures and the Abolitionist Movement

William Wilberforce articulated his commitment to the abolitionist cause by viewing his campaign as a divinely ordained crusade.

Answer: True

Explanation: William Wilberforce, a prominent leader in the British abolitionist movement, expressed a profound personal conviction that his work against the slave trade was a mission assigned by divine providence.

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The Committee for the Abolition of the Slave Trade was established in 1787 through the collaboration of secular humanists and adherents of the Quaker faith.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Committee for the Abolition of the Slave Trade, formed in 1787, was primarily established by Evangelical English Protestants who allied with the Quakers, united by their shared opposition to slavery, rather than a coalition including secular humanists.

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The Quaker community played a pivotal role in the abolitionist movement, fundamentally viewing slavery as an immoral institution.

Answer: True

Explanation: Quakers were instrumental in the abolitionist cause, holding a long-standing conviction that slavery was inherently immoral and a profound affront to human dignity, thereby contributing a significant and dedicated faction to the movement.

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The parliamentary faction known as the "Saints," led by William Wilberforce, played a crucial role in the successful passage of the Slave Trade Act 1807.

Answer: True

Explanation: The "Saints" were a group of like-minded Members of Parliament, often motivated by religious conviction, who actively supported the abolitionist cause. Their collective influence was instrumental in advocating for and securing the passage of the Slave Trade Act 1807.

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Who is identified as the principal leader of the British campaign to abolish the slave trade?

Answer: William Wilberforce

Explanation: William Wilberforce is widely recognized as the preeminent leader of the parliamentary campaign to abolish the slave trade, dedicating decades of his political career to this cause.

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What was the role of the Quakers in the abolitionist movement?

Answer: They were key supporters, considering slavery immoral.

Explanation: The Quakers were significant proponents of the abolitionist movement, viewing slavery as fundamentally immoral and contributing substantially to the ethical arguments against the trade.

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What was the role of the "Saints" faction in the British Parliament regarding the abolitionist movement?

Answer: They were like-minded members, often driven by religious conviction, who supported abolition and were instrumental in passing the 1807 Act.

Explanation: The "Saints" constituted a faction within Parliament, characterized by shared convictions and often religious motivations, who actively championed the abolitionist cause and were pivotal in the legislative process leading to the Slave Trade Act 1807.

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Parliamentary Debates and Legislative Milestones

William Wilberforce's initial parliamentary motion in 1791 advocating for the abolition of the slave trade was successful, securing 163 votes in favour.

Answer: False

Explanation: William Wilberforce's initial motion in the House of Commons in 1791 to abolish the slave trade was defeated, receiving only 88 votes in favour compared to 163 against.

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Henry Dundas advocated for the immediate and complete abolition of the slave trade in 1792.

Answer: False

Explanation: Henry Dundas, while acknowledging the eventual need for abolition, argued for a gradual approach in 1792, proposing conditions and seeking the support of colonial legislatures rather than immediate, complete abolition.

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The Acts of Union 1800 weakened the abolitionist cause by adding 100 Irish MPs, many of whom opposed abolition.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Acts of Union 1800 strengthened the abolitionist cause by incorporating 100 Irish Members of Parliament, a majority of whom were supportive of abolition, thereby bolstering the parliamentary faction advocating for the end of the slave trade.

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On February 23, 1807, the House of Commons voted overwhelmingly against the bill to abolish the Atlantic slave trade.

Answer: False

Explanation: On February 23, 1807, the House of Commons voted decisively in favour of the bill to abolish the Atlantic slave trade, with 283 votes in favour and only 16 against, marking a significant victory for the abolitionist movement.

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What was the outcome of William Wilberforce's initial motion in the House of Commons in 1791 regarding the slave trade?

Answer: It was defeated by a significant margin.

Explanation: William Wilberforce's initial attempt in 1791 to secure parliamentary support for the abolition of the slave trade was unsuccessful, failing by a considerable margin.

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How did Henry Dundas initially approach the issue of abolishing the slave trade in Parliament?

Answer: He argued for gradual abolition and proposed conditions.

Explanation: Henry Dundas advocated for a phased approach to abolition in Parliament, suggesting that gradual measures and conditions, such as colonial legislative support, were necessary for effective implementation.

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What was the effect of the Acts of Union 1800 on the parliamentary debate concerning the slave trade?

Answer: It strengthened the abolitionist cause due to supportive Irish MPs.

Explanation: The Acts of Union 1800 integrated 100 Irish Members of Parliament into the British legislature, a majority of whom supported abolition, thereby reinforcing the parliamentary bloc advocating for the end of the slave trade.

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What was the outcome of the vote in the House of Commons on February 23, 1807, concerning the abolition of the Atlantic slave trade?

Answer: The bill passed with overwhelming support, 283 to 16.

Explanation: The House of Commons recorded a decisive vote of 283 in favour and 16 against on February 23, 1807, approving the bill to abolish the Atlantic slave trade.

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International Context and Diplomatic Efforts

Napoleon Bonaparte's reintroduction of slavery in French colonies in 1802 had no impact on Britain's abolition efforts.

Answer: False

Explanation: Napoleon Bonaparte's reinstatement of slavery in French colonies in 1802 provided Britain with a significant moral advantage during the ongoing Napoleonic Wars, allowing it to contrast its humanitarian stance with France's regressive policy.

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The United States enacted its Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves on March 2, 1808, thereby effectively terminating the US Atlantic slave trade.

Answer: True

Explanation: The United States Congress passed the Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves in 1807, which took effect on January 1, 1808, effectively abolishing the international slave trade for the U.S., though the domestic trade persisted.

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Article 1, Section 9, Clause 1 of the United States Constitution stipulated that the federal government could not prohibit the international slave trade prior to 1808.

Answer: True

Explanation: The U.S. Constitution included a provision that protected the international slave trade from federal prohibition for twenty years, until 1808, influencing the timing of the American legislative action to end the trade.

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Britain employed economic sanctions against African kingdoms that declined to sign treaties mandating the cessation of the slave trade.

Answer: False

Explanation: While Britain pursued anti-slavery treaties with African rulers, the primary documented actions against those who refused included diplomatic pressure and, in some instances, forceful measures such as the deposition of rulers, rather than solely economic sanctions.

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Following the passage of the 1807 Act, anti-slavery treaties were concluded with more than 100 African rulers.

Answer: False

Explanation: Following the Act of 1807, Britain successfully negotiated anti-slavery treaties with over 50 African rulers, a significant diplomatic achievement in its efforts to suppress the trade across the continent.

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In 1793, the Parliament of Upper Canada enacted an Act Against Slavery that abolished the slave trade and stipulated that children born to enslaved women would be freed upon reaching adulthood.

Answer: True

Explanation: The Parliament of Upper Canada passed an Act Against Slavery in 1793, which not only prohibited the slave trade but also introduced provisions for the eventual emancipation of children born to enslaved mothers.

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The Treaty of Paris in 1814 stipulated that France affirmed the slave trade was 'conducive to economic prosperity.'

Answer: False

Explanation: The Treaty of Paris in 1814 stipulated that France declared the slave trade 'repugnant to the principles of natural justice' and agreed to abolish its participation within five years, directly contradicting the notion that it was considered conducive to economic prosperity.

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The 1817 Anglo-Spanish treaty mandated that Spain cease its slave trade activities by 1815.

Answer: False

Explanation: The 1817 Anglo-Spanish treaty stipulated that Spain would suppress its slave trade by 1820, not 1815. This treaty was a key diplomatic effort by Britain to secure international commitments against the slave trade.

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The U.S. Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves resulted in the abolition of the domestic slave trade within the United States.

Answer: False

Explanation: While the U.S. Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves effectively ended the international slave trade, it did not abolish the domestic slave trade, which continued to operate within the United States.

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Napoleon Bonaparte's reintroduction of slavery in French colonies in 1802 served what purpose in relation to Britain's abolition efforts?

Answer: It provided Britain with a moral high ground against France.

Explanation: By abolishing the slave trade while Napoleon reinstated slavery in French colonies, Britain positioned itself favourably on the international stage, asserting a moral advantage during the Napoleonic Wars.

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How did the United States address the slave trade in 1807?

Answer: It passed an Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves, effective in 1808.

Explanation: In 1807, the United States enacted the Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves, which legally ended the international slave trade for the nation, commencing its enforcement in 1808.

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What constitutional provision in the United States influenced the timing of its slave trade abolition?

Answer: Article 1, Section 9, Clause 1, forbidding closure before 1808.

Explanation: Article 1, Section 9, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution protected the international slave trade from federal prohibition until 1808, thereby dictating the earliest possible date for the nation's legislative action to end the trade.

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What action did Britain take against African kingdoms that refused to sign treaties outlawing the slave trade?

Answer: They sometimes used forceful measures, like deposing rulers.

Explanation: In instances where African kingdoms resisted signing anti-slavery treaties, Britain sometimes employed forceful diplomatic and military actions, including the deposition of rulers, to secure compliance.

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Approximately how many anti-slavery treaties were signed with African rulers following the Act of 1807?

Answer: Over 50

Explanation: Following the enactment of the Slave Trade Act 1807, Britain successfully negotiated anti-slavery treaties with more than 50 African rulers as part of its diplomatic strategy to suppress the trade.

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In 1793, the Parliament of Upper Canada passed an Act Against Slavery that had what effect?

Answer: It abolished the slave trade and freed children born to enslaved women.

Explanation: The 1793 Act Against Slavery in Upper Canada abolished the slave trade within its jurisdiction and included provisions for the emancipation of children born to enslaved mothers upon reaching adulthood.

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What did the Treaty of Paris in 1814 stipulate regarding France's stance on the slave trade?

Answer: France declared the slave trade 'repugnant to the principles of natural justice' and agreed to abolish it within five years.

Explanation: The Treaty of Paris in 1814 saw France officially declare the slave trade 'repugnant to the principles of natural justice' and commit to its abolition within a five-year period.

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What was the significance of the 1817 Anglo-Spanish treaty?

Answer: It led to Spain agreeing to suppress its slave trade by 1820.

Explanation: The 1817 Anglo-Spanish treaty was significant as it secured Spain's commitment to suppress its slave trade by 1820, aligning with Britain's broader diplomatic objectives for international abolition.

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What was the consequence of the US Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves on the domestic slave trade?

Answer: It led to the development of a "coastwise slave trade" within the US.

Explanation: The U.S. Act Prohibiting Importation of Slaves, while ending international trade, inadvertently fostered the growth of a domestic "coastwise slave trade" as enslaved individuals were transported between different regions within the United States.

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Enforcement and Suppression of the Trade

The Slave Trade Act 1807 stipulated financial penalties of up to £100 for each enslaved person found aboard a vessel continuing the illicit trade.

Answer: True

Explanation: To deter captains from violating the Slave Trade Act 1807, the legislation imposed significant financial penalties, calculated per enslaved individual found on board, thereby creating a direct economic disincentive against continued participation in the trade.

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To avoid fines, ship captains sometimes dumped captives overboard when sighted by the Royal Navy.

Answer: True

Explanation: Faced with potential fines under the Slave Trade Act 1807, some ship captains resorted to desperate measures, such as dumping enslaved individuals overboard when Royal Navy vessels were sighted, to reduce the number of captives on board.

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The West Africa Squadron was established in 1807 to patrol the coast of West Africa and enforce the Slave Trade Act 1807.

Answer: False

Explanation: The West Africa Squadron was established by the Royal Navy in 1808, not 1807, to patrol the coast of West Africa and enforce the Slave Trade Act of 1807.

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Between 1808 and 1860, the West Africa Squadron intercepted approximately 1,600 slave ships.

Answer: True

Explanation: The West Africa Squadron was a crucial naval force in enforcing the abolition of the slave trade, seizing a significant number of slave ships and freeing approximately 150,000 Africans during its operational period.

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Following the enactment of the 1807 Act, the Royal Navy treated vessels found transporting enslaved individuals in the same manner as pirate vessels.

Answer: True

Explanation: The classification of slave ships as equivalent to pirate vessels by the Royal Navy underscored the severity with which the illegal slave trade was to be prosecuted after the passage of the 1807 Act.

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What were the penalties imposed by the Slave Trade Act 1807 on ship captains who continued the trade?

Answer: Fines of up to £100 per enslaved person

Explanation: The Slave Trade Act 1807 stipulated financial penalties, specifically fines up to £100 for each enslaved person found on board, as a deterrent against continued participation in the illegal slave trade.

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What tactic did some ship captains employ to avoid fines from the Royal Navy after the 1807 Act?

Answer: Dumping captives overboard

Explanation: To circumvent penalties imposed by the Slave Trade Act 1807, some ship captains resorted to the desperate measure of discarding enslaved individuals overboard when Royal Navy vessels were sighted, thereby reducing the number of captives on board.

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What was the purpose of the West Africa Squadron established by the Royal Navy in 1808?

Answer: To patrol West African coasts and enforce the Slave Trade Act 1807.

Explanation: The West Africa Squadron was commissioned in 1808 to patrol the maritime regions of West Africa, with the specific mandate of enforcing the Slave Trade Act of 1807 by intercepting illicit slave ships.

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How did the Royal Navy treat ships found transporting slaves after the Act of 1807?

Answer: They were treated the same as pirate vessels.

Explanation: Following the implementation of the 1807 Act, the Royal Navy adopted a policy of treating vessels discovered engaged in the slave trade as equivalent to pirate vessels, signifying the gravity of the offense.

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Later Developments and Legacy

David Livingstone's reports in the 1860s concentrated on the slave trade in North Africa and consequently revitalized the abolitionist movement.

Answer: False

Explanation: David Livingstone's influential reports in the 1860s detailed the atrocities of the Arab slave trade in East Africa, which significantly revived public interest and galvanized renewed efforts within the abolitionist movement.

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Britain assumed control of Zanzibar in 1890, subsequently utilizing the island to aid in enforcing the prohibition of slave trading in the region.

Answer: True

Explanation: Britain's acquisition of control over Zanzibar in 1890 was strategically employed as part of its broader commitment to suppressing the slave trade, leveraging the island's position to enforce the ban in East Africa.

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The Slave Trade Act 1807 was repealed by the Statute Law Revision Act of 1807.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Slave Trade Act 1807 was not repealed by the Statute Law Revision Act of 1807. It was repealed by the Statute Law Revision Act of 1861.

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What impact did David Livingstone's reports in the 1860s have on the abolitionist movement?

Answer: They detailed atrocities in East Africa, reviving public interest in abolition.

Explanation: David Livingstone's detailed accounts of the brutal Arab slave trade in East Africa during the 1860s significantly re-engaged public attention and revitalized the abolitionist movement in Britain.

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How did Britain use the island of Zanzibar in its efforts to enforce the ban on slave trading in the 1890s?

Answer: To help enforce the ban on slave trading in the region.

Explanation: Following its acquisition of control over Zanzibar in 1890, Britain utilized the island as a strategic location to bolster enforcement efforts against the slave trade in the surrounding East African region.

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The Slave Trade Act 1807 was repealed by which subsequent act?

Answer: The Statute Law Revision Act 1861

Explanation: The Slave Trade Act 1807 was formally repealed by the Statute Law Revision Act of 1861, which consolidated and removed obsolete legislation from the statute books.

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