yr13_ia_2007_macphail_b

=Summary of Evidence (500-600 words)=

Between the 15th and the 19th Century, the trading of African slaves between European countries occurred. It is estimated by historians that during this time period, roughly 12 million slaves were traded. Some were captured and sent to the ‘New World’ through raids and kidnappings, but most were through the process of coastal trading. The slave trade has been described as being a ‘triangular’ trade.[|[1]][|[2]] The first of the three sides of the triangle was the trading of goods from Europe to Africa, with that of slaves. Every time a slave was captured and transported to America, the African rulers would receive European goods. The second side of the triangle was exporting slaves across the ocean to North America, the Caribbean and South America. Finally, the third part of the triangle consisted of sending raw materials from America to Europe that had been produced by slaves shipped from Africa. The struggle to end the slave trade was a result of many economic factors, as well as campaigns by various people. The main people involved in abolishing the slave trade in England were William Roscoe, Thomas Clarkson and William Wilberforce[|[3]]. William Roscoe was one of the best know abolitionist. As he lived in Liverpool, which was mostly pro-slavery, he tended not to openly talk about his views about slavery, for fear of being criticised by society.

Slavery was eventually abolished in 1807 by Britain and other countries, but further illegal slave trade continued for 60 years. Between 1500 and 1870 almost a quarter of all African people were enslaved at some point during their lifetime. Most of the illegal trading occurred because of sugar plantations situated in Brazil and Cuba.

To fight the illegal slave trade, there was a slave patrol by the British Royal Navy, and ships that were seized after being found to have slaves on board, had to pay compensation, so that other countries would be persuaded to also abolish slave trading.

Many feature films have depicted the transatlantic slave trade, such as the film Amistad [|[4]]. The film follows the story of a Cuban slave ship by the same name, carrying Africans from one slave port to another. However, the slaves on board the ship revolted, after suffering many ill treatments that were often present on board slave ships [|[5]], they commandeered the ship, and ordered the crew to turn back to Africa. However, they were tricked, and the slave ship ended up docking in the United States of America. A long trial ensued, to decide whether or not the slaves should be set free, since the cargo had originally been captured against the law in Cuba. The case eventually ended at the Supreme Court of the US, where it was John Quincy Adams, who fought for the freedom of the slaves.

The film was nominated for four Oscars, as well as winning six other awards. After the production of the film, Spielberg, the director, even ensured that over 18000 leaflets were sent to schools all over the USA, showing teachers how they could use the film to show children the important events surrounding the slave trade.[|[6]]

[|[1]] A Short History of Slavery by James Walvin [|[2]] The Life of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa, the African. Note, page 1. [|[3]] http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/maritime/slavery/eabolition.asp [|[4]] Amistad, 1997 Directed by Steven Spielberg [|[5]] The Life of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa, the African page 32; “on my refusing to eat, one of them held me fast by the hands, and laid me across, I think, the windlass, and tied my feet, while the other flogged me severely.” [|[6]] Liberty or Licence? By John Thornton; History Today Magazine Online, Volume 48 Issue 4, April 1998