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Slavery Abolition Act 1833 Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge

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Study Guide: The Slavery Abolition Act 1833: Context, Implementation, and Legacy

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The Slavery Abolition Act 1833: Context, Implementation, and Legacy Study Guide

Historical Context and Early Abolitionism

Lord Mansfield's judgment in the *Somerset* case in 1772 established that slavery had no legal basis in English common or statutory law.

Answer: True

Explanation: The *Somerset* case, decided by Lord Mansfield in May 1772, emancipated an enslaved person brought to England and legally established that slavery lacked a basis in English common or statutory law.

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Granville Sharp believed that the *Somerset* case meant slavery was not supported by law only within England, but not Scotland.

Answer: False

Explanation: Granville Sharp and other campaigners interpreted the *Somerset* case as meaning slavery was not supported by law within *both* England and Scotland, asserting that no ownership could be exercised over enslaved people once they entered English or Scottish soil.

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The anti-slavery movement to abolish the slave trade began among the British public in 1787 with the establishment of a key organization.

Answer: False

Explanation: The anti-slavery movement to abolish the slave trade began among the British public by 1783, preceding the establishment of the Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade in 1787.

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The Wedgwood anti-slavery medallion was primarily a political tool used by male campaigners to lobby Parliament.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Wedgwood anti-slavery medallion was primarily a popular fashion accessory, widely worn by women, that promoted the cause of justice, humanity, and freedom, rather than a direct political lobbying tool.

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John Graves Simcoe tabled the Act Against Slavery in Upper Canada in 1793, making it the first legislation to outlaw the slave trade in any part of the British Empire.

Answer: True

Explanation: John Graves Simcoe, Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada, introduced the Act Against Slavery in 1793, which indeed marked the first legislation to outlaw the slave trade within any part of the British Empire.

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William Wilberforce's lifelong purpose, as written in his diary in 1787, was to abolish slavery throughout the British Empire.

Answer: False

Explanation: In his 1787 diary entry, William Wilberforce stated his great purpose in life was to suppress the slave trade, not to abolish slavery throughout the British Empire, a goal that evolved later.

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The Slave Trade Act 1807 abolished slavery within the British Empire, making it illegal to own enslaved people.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Slave Trade Act 1807 outlawed the international slave trade but did not abolish slavery itself within the British Empire; that was achieved by the Slavery Abolition Act 1833.

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Henry Brougham introduced the Slave Trade Felony Act 1811 to impose harsher penalties for the overseas slave trade.

Answer: True

Explanation: Abolitionist Henry Brougham introduced the Slave Trade Felony Act 1811, which successfully made the overseas slave trade a felony with much harsher penalties, strengthening the 1807 Act.

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The Royal Navy's West Africa Squadron freed approximately 1.6 million Africans between 1808 and 1860.

Answer: False

Explanation: Between 1808 and 1860, the Royal Navy's West Africa Squadron freed approximately 150,000 Africans, not 1.6 million, from captured slave ships.

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According to Eric Williams, abolitionists showed little interest in abolishing slavery itself between 1807 and 1823 because the slave trade was more profitable than sugar plantations.

Answer: False

Explanation: Eric Williams argued that abolitionists showed little interest in abolishing slavery itself between 1807 and 1823 because the slave trade generated only *small* profits compared to the highly lucrative sugar plantations, where slavery continued to thrive.

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The Anti-Slavery Society was founded in London in 1823 and included prominent figures like William Wilberforce and Joseph Sturge.

Answer: True

Explanation: The Anti-Slavery Society was indeed founded in London in 1823, with prominent abolitionists such as Joseph Sturge and William Wilberforce among its notable members.

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The Baptist War was a peaceful protest organized by Samuel Sharpe that directly led to the immediate passage of the Slavery Abolition Act 1833.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Baptist War, while initially conceived as a peaceful strike, escalated into a large-scale slave revolt in Jamaica. Though suppressed, it significantly contributed to, rather than directly and immediately caused, the passage of the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 through parliamentary inquiries.

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The Reform Act 1832 strengthened the West India Lobby's ability to resist abolitionist efforts by creating new seats for sugar planters.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Reform Act 1832 actually weakened the West India Lobby's ability to resist abolitionist efforts by eliminating the 'rotten and pocket boroughs' that had previously allowed sugar planters to maintain powerful parliamentary representation.

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Which legal case in May 1772 was significant in establishing that slavery had no legal basis in English common or statutory law?

Answer: The *Somerset* case

Explanation: Lord Mansfield's judgment in the *Somerset* case in May 1772 was a landmark decision that established slavery had no legal basis under English common or statutory law.

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What was Granville Sharp's interpretation of the *ratio decidendi* of the *Somerset* case?

Answer: It meant slavery was not supported by law within England and Scotland.

Explanation: Granville Sharp interpreted the *ratio decidendi* of the *Somerset* case to mean that slavery was not legally supported within both England and Scotland, preventing ownership claims over enslaved people on their soil.

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When did an anti-slavery movement to abolish the slave trade begin among the British public?

Answer: By 1783

Explanation: An anti-slavery movement focused on abolishing the slave trade began among the British public by 1783, preceding later legislative actions.

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Which organization was established in 1787 to campaign against the slave trade?

Answer: The Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade

Explanation: The Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade was established in 1787, playing a pivotal role in the early campaign against the slave trade.

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What was the primary function of the Wedgwood anti-slavery medallion?

Answer: To be worn as a popular fashion accessory promoting the cause of freedom.

Explanation: The Wedgwood anti-slavery medallion served as a popular fashion accessory, widely worn to symbolize and promote the cause of justice, humanity, and freedom during the abolitionist movement.

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Who tabled the Act Against Slavery in Upper Canada in 1793, which was the first legislation to outlaw the slave trade in a part of the British Empire?

Answer: John Graves Simcoe

Explanation: John Graves Simcoe, as Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada, tabled the Act Against Slavery in 1793, marking the first legislation to outlaw the slave trade within a British imperial territory.

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What did William Wilberforce state as his great purpose in life in his 1787 diary entry?

Answer: To suppress the slave trade.

Explanation: In his 1787 diary, William Wilberforce articulated his primary life purpose as the suppression of the slave trade, a cause he championed for two decades.

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What was the main achievement of the Slave Trade Act 1807?

Answer: It outlawed the international slave trade.

Explanation: The primary achievement of the Slave Trade Act 1807 was to outlaw the international slave trade, making the transportation of enslaved people across the Atlantic illegal.

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How did the Slave Trade Felony Act 1811 strengthen the abolition of the slave trade?

Answer: It made the overseas slave trade a felony with harsher penalties.

Explanation: The Slave Trade Felony Act 1811 strengthened the abolition of the slave trade by reclassifying the overseas slave trade as a felony, thereby imposing significantly harsher penalties on offenders.

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How many Africans did the Royal Navy's West Africa Squadron free between 1808 and 1860?

Answer: 150,000

Explanation: Between 1808 and 1860, the Royal Navy's West Africa Squadron successfully freed approximately 150,000 Africans from captured slave ships.

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According to Eric Williams, why did abolitionists show little interest in abolishing slavery itself between 1807 and 1823?

Answer: The slave trade generated only small profits compared to the lucrative sugar plantations where slavery thrived.

Explanation: Eric Williams posited that abolitionists' limited interest in abolishing slavery itself between 1807 and 1823 stemmed from the relatively small profits of the slave trade compared to the highly lucrative Caribbean sugar plantations, where slavery remained economically dominant.

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When was the Anti-Slavery Society founded in London?

Answer: 1823

Explanation: The Anti-Slavery Society was founded in London in 1823, marking a significant organizational step in the broader abolitionist movement.

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What was the Baptist War, and how did it influence the abolition of slavery?

Answer: A large-scale slave revolt in Jamaica that contributed to the passage of the 1833 Act.

Explanation: The Baptist War was a major slave revolt in Jamaica that, despite its suppression, prompted British parliamentary inquiries and significantly contributed to the eventual passage of the Slavery Abolition Act 1833.

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How did the Reform Act 1832 impact the West India Lobby's ability to resist abolitionist efforts?

Answer: It eliminated the 'rotten and pocket boroughs' they used, weakening their resistance.

Explanation: The Reform Act 1832 significantly weakened the West India Lobby by eliminating the 'rotten and pocket boroughs' that had previously provided them with disproportionate parliamentary influence, thereby clearing the path for abolitionist legislation.

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The Slavery Abolition Act 1833: Enactment and Provisions

The Slavery Abolition Act 1833 primarily aimed to outlaw the international slave trade, but not slavery within the British Empire.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Slavery Abolition Act 1833 specifically abolished slavery throughout the British Empire, whereas the Slave Trade Act 1807 had previously outlawed only the international slave trade.

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Prime Minister Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, introduced the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 to Parliament.

Answer: True

Explanation: Prime Minister Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, leading a reforming Whig administration, was responsible for introducing the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 to Parliament.

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The Slavery Abolition Act 1833 received Royal Assent and officially commenced on the same day, August 28, 1833.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Act received Royal Assent on August 28, 1833, but its official commencement was delayed until August 1, 1834.

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What was the primary method by which the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 achieved the abolition of slavery throughout the British Empire?

Answer: A system of compensated emancipation where the government purchased freedom.

Explanation: The Slavery Abolition Act 1833 achieved its goal through a system of compensated emancipation, where the British government purchased the freedom of enslaved people, rather than granting immediate, unconditional freedom or relying solely on outlawing the trade.

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Who was the Prime Minister responsible for introducing the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 to Parliament?

Answer: Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey

Explanation: Prime Minister Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, who led a reforming Whig administration, was the individual responsible for introducing the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 to Parliament.

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When did the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 officially commence, making it law across the British Empire?

Answer: August 1, 1834

Explanation: The Slavery Abolition Act 1833 officially commenced on August 1, 1834, the year following its Royal Assent.

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What was the long title of the Slavery Abolition Act 1833?

Answer: An Act for the Abolition of Slavery throughout the British Colonies; for promoting the Industry of the manumitted Slaves; and for compensating the Persons hitherto entitled to the Services of such Slaves.

Explanation: The long title of the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 was 'An Act for the Abolition of Slavery throughout the British Colonies; for promoting the Industry of the manumitted Slaves; and for compensating the Persons hitherto entitled to the Services of such Slaves,' which comprehensively outlined its objectives.

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Financial Aspects: Compensation and Debt

The Slavery Abolition Act 1833 provided compensation to both slave owners and the enslaved people for their suffering.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Slavery Abolition Act 1833 provided compensation solely to slave owners for the loss of their 'business assets,' offering no compensation to the enslaved people for their suffering or forced labor.

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The total amount of money allocated for compensation to slave owners under the Act was £20 million Sterling.

Answer: True

Explanation: The Slavery Abolition Act 1833 allocated a substantial sum of £20 million Sterling for compensation payments to slave owners.

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The £20 million compensation in 1833 represented approximately 40% of Britain's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at the time.

Answer: False

Explanation: In 1833, the £20 million compensation represented approximately 5% of Britain's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 40% of the Treasury's annual income, not 40% of GDP.

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The debt incurred for slave owner compensation was fully extinguished by British taxpayers in 1927.

Answer: False

Explanation: The debt incurred for slave owner compensation was definitively extinguished by British taxpayers in 2015, not 1927, after being subsumed into a consolidated loan in 1927.

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All compensation money for slave owners was paid to absentee owners residing in Britain.

Answer: False

Explanation: Compensation money for slave owners was distributed, with half going to slave-owning families residing in the Caribbean and Africa, and the other half to absentee owners in Britain.

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Henry Phillpotts, the Bishop of Exeter, received compensation for 665 enslaved people in the West Indies.

Answer: True

Explanation: Henry Phillpotts, the Bishop of Exeter, was indeed among the prominent individuals who received compensation under the Act, specifically £12,700 for 665 enslaved people in the West Indies.

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How did the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 address compensation for slavery?

Answer: It provided compensation to slave owners for their 'business assets'.

Explanation: The Slavery Abolition Act 1833 addressed compensation by providing payments exclusively to slave owners for the loss of their 'business assets,' without offering any recompense to the enslaved individuals.

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What was the total amount of money allocated for compensation to slave owners under the Slavery Abolition Act 1833?

Answer: £20 million Sterling

Explanation: A total of £20 million Sterling was allocated under the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 for compensation payments to slave owners, representing a significant financial commitment by the British government.

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In 1833, the £20 million compensation represented what percentage of Britain's Gross Domestic Product (GDP)?

Answer: 5%

Explanation: The £20 million compensation in 1833 constituted approximately 5% of Britain's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at the time, underscoring the scale of the financial outlay.

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Who were the primary bankers that provided the £15 million loan to finance the compensation payments for slave owners?

Answer: Nathan Mayer Rothschild and Moses Montefiore

Explanation: Nathan Mayer Rothschild and his brother-in-law Moses Montefiore were the primary bankers who provided the £15 million loan to the British government to finance the compensation payments for slave owners.

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When was the debt incurred for slave owner compensation definitively extinguished by British taxpayers?

Answer: 2015

Explanation: The debt incurred for slave owner compensation was definitively extinguished by British taxpayers in 2015, after being serviced for a prolonged period and subsumed into a consolidated loan in 1927.

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How was the compensation money distributed among slave-owning families?

Answer: Half went to Caribbean/Africa residents, and half to absentee owners in Britain.

Explanation: The compensation money was distributed such that half went to slave-owning families residing in the Caribbean and Africa, and the other half was paid to absentee owners living in Britain.

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Which prominent individual, mentioned in the source, received £12,700 for 665 enslaved people in the West Indies?

Answer: Henry Phillpotts, Bishop of Exeter

Explanation: Henry Phillpotts, the Bishop of Exeter, was a prominent individual who, along with trustees, received £12,700 in compensation for 665 enslaved people in the West Indies.

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Implementation, Exclusions, and Aftermath

After the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 came into force, all enslaved people in the colonies were immediately freed.

Answer: False

Explanation: Upon the commencement of the Slavery Abolition Act 1833, only enslaved people under the age of six were immediately freed; those over six were re-designated as 'apprentices' and remained in a form of servitude for several more years.

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The Slavery Abolition Act 1833 initially applied to all British territories worldwide without any exclusions.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Slavery Abolition Act 1833 initially excluded territories in the possession of the East India Company, Ceylon, and Saint Helena, meaning it did not apply to all British territories worldwide.

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The exceptions for the East India Company territories, Ceylon, and Saint Helena were eliminated in 1843 by the Indian Slavery Act, 1843.

Answer: True

Explanation: The Indian Slavery Act, 1843, indeed eliminated the initial exclusions of the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 for the East India Company territories, Ceylon, and Saint Helena, extending abolition to these regions.

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The initial practical effect of the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 was the immediate freedom of all enslaved individuals in the British colonies.

Answer: False

Explanation: The initial practical effect of the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 was not the immediate freedom of all enslaved individuals; only those under six years old were freed, while others became 'apprentices' for a transitional period.

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What was the immediate practical effect of the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 on enslaved people over the age of six in the colonies?

Answer: They were re-designated as 'apprentices' and remained in servitude.

Explanation: Enslaved people over the age of six in the colonies were not immediately freed by the Slavery Abolition Act 1833; instead, they were re-designated as 'apprentices' and continued in a form of servitude for a transitional period.

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Which of the following territories was *initially excluded* from the Slavery Abolition Act 1833?

Answer: Saint Helena

Explanation: The Slavery Abolition Act 1833 initially excluded territories such as the East India Company territories, Ceylon, and Saint Helena from its immediate application.

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When were the territories initially excluded from the 1833 Act, such as East India Company territories, finally included in the abolition efforts?

Answer: 1843

Explanation: The territories initially excluded from the 1833 Act, including the East India Company territories, Ceylon, and Saint Helena, were finally included in abolition efforts in 1843 with the passage of the Indian Slavery Act.

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Enduring Legacy and Modern Prohibition

The British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, formed in 1839, is known today as Anti-Slavery International.

Answer: True

Explanation: The British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, established in 1839 as a successor to the Anti-Slavery Society, continues its global fight against slavery today under the name Anti-Slavery International.

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Ava DuVernay's film *28 August: A Day in the Life of a People* highlights the Royal Assent of the Slavery Abolition Act as a significant event in African-American history.

Answer: True

Explanation: Ava DuVernay's film *28 August: A Day in the Life of a People* indeed features William IV's royal assent to the Slavery Abolition Act as one of six significant events in African-American history occurring on that date.

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The 2006 film *Amazing Grace* focuses on John Newton's campaign against the slave trade in the British Parliament.

Answer: False

Explanation: The 2006 film *Amazing Grace* primarily focuses on William Wilberforce's campaign against the slave trade in the British Parliament, with John Newton serving as a major influence on Wilberforce, rather than being the central campaigner himself.

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Andrea Levy's novel *The Long Song* and its BBC adaptation depict the period of slavery abolition in colonial Jamaica.

Answer: True

Explanation: Andrea Levy's novel *The Long Song* and its BBC adaptation indeed portray the experiences of an enslaved person in colonial Jamaica during the period of slavery abolition in the British West Indies.

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The Slavery Abolition Act 1833 was repealed, but slavery remains abolished in British law due to other existing legislation.

Answer: True

Explanation: Although the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 was repealed in 1998, slavery remains prohibited in British law through other legislation, including sections of the Slave Trade Acts of 1824, 1843, and 1873, and Article 4 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

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The Slave Trade Act 1824, 1843, and 1873, along with Article 4 of the European Convention on Human Rights, are among the legislations that continue to prohibit slavery in British law after the 1833 Act's repeal.

Answer: True

Explanation: Indeed, after the repeal of the Slavery Abolition Act 1833, several other legislative instruments, including sections of the Slave Trade Acts of 1824, 1843, and 1873, and Article 4 of the European Convention on Human Rights, continue to ensure the prohibition of slavery in British law.

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What is the name of the successor organization to the Anti-Slavery Society, formed in 1839, which is known today as Anti-Slavery International?

Answer: The British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society

Explanation: The British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, formed in 1839 as a successor to the Anti-Slavery Society, is the organization known today as Anti-Slavery International, continuing the global fight against slavery.

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When was the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 formally repealed?

Answer: November 19, 1998

Explanation: The Slavery Abolition Act 1833 was formally repealed on November 19, 1998, by the Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1998, though slavery itself remained prohibited by other existing legislation.

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Which film, commissioned by the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture, highlights William IV's royal assent to the Slavery Abolition Act as a significant event?

Answer: *28 August: A Day in the Life of a People*

Explanation: Ava DuVernay's film *28 August: A Day in the Life of a People*, commissioned by the Smithsonian, highlights William IV's royal assent to the Slavery Abolition Act as a pivotal event in African-American history.

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The 2006 film *Amazing Grace* primarily focuses on the campaign against the slave trade led by which figure?

Answer: William Wilberforce

Explanation: The 2006 film *Amazing Grace* centers on the parliamentary campaign against the slave trade, primarily led by William Wilberforce.

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Which of the following acts, along with others, continues to prohibit slavery in British law after the repeal of the Slavery Abolition Act 1833?

Answer: The Slave Trade Act 1824

Explanation: After the repeal of the Slavery Abolition Act 1833, the Slave Trade Act 1824, along with the Slave Trade Acts of 1843 and 1873, and Article 4 of the European Convention on Human Rights, continue to prohibit slavery in British law.

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