THE HISTORY OF THE RISE PROGRESS AND ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE ABOLITION OF THE AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE BY THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT (1808) VOLUME I

by Thomas Clarkson

In the first volume of "The History of the Rise, Progress and Accomplishment of the Abolition of the African Slave Trade," Thomas Clarkson chronicles the movement to abolish the transatlantic slave trade in Britain. Drawing on his extensive research and personal experiences, Clarkson details the moral and humanitarian arguments against slavery, highlighting the inhumanity of the trade and the suffering of enslaved Africans. He presents a thorough examination of the historical context, including the economic interests that perpetuated the slave trade and the various social movements that emerged to challenge it.

Clarkson's narrative outlines the efforts of abolitionists, including key figures such as Granville Sharp and William Wilberforce, who played significant roles in raising public awareness and lobbying Parliament for reform. He describes the strategies employed by abolitionists, such as public meetings, petitions, and the collection of evidence regarding the brutality of the slave trade. Through powerful testimonies and vivid descriptions, Clarkson aims to galvanize public sentiment against slavery and encourage political action.

Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1836

About the author

Thomas Clarkson was an English abolitionist, and a leading campaigner against the slave trade in the British Empire. He helped found The Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade (also known as the Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade) and helped achieve passage of the Slave Trade Act 1807, which ended British trade in slaves.

He became a pacifist in 1816 and, together with his brother John, was among the twelve founders of the Society for the Promotion of Permanent and Universal Peace.

In his later years, Clarkson campaigned for the abolition of slavery worldwide; it was then concentrated in the Americas. In 1840, he was the key speaker at the Anti-Slavery Society's (today known as Anti-Slavery International) first conference in London which campaigned to end slavery in other countries.