Abolitionism in the United Kingdom

1787 Wedgwood anti-slavery medallion designed by Josiah Wedgwood for the British anti-slavery campaign

Abolitionism in the United Kingdom was the movement in the late 18th and early 19th centuries to end the practice of slavery, whether formal or informal, in the United Kingdom, the British Empire and the world, including ending the Atlantic slave trade.[1][2][3] It was part of a wider abolitionism movement in Western Europe and the Americas.

The buying and selling of slaves was made illegal across the British Empire in 1807, but owning slaves overseas was permitted until it was outlawed completely in 1833, beginning a process where from 1834 slaves became indentured "apprentices" to their former owners until emancipation was achieved for the majority by 1840 and for remaining exceptions by 1843.

  1. ^ "Abolition of the slave trade and slavery in Britain". The British Library. Archived from the original on 18 March 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
  2. ^ "Chronology – Who banned slavery when?". Reuters. Archived from the original on 18 March 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-18.
  3. ^ "Timeline of Events Leading up to the Abolition of the Slave Trade" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-14.