Slavery and the slave trade

The transatlantic trade Britain profited from before campaigners pushed for its abolition in 1807 and 1833.

Key facts

Britain profited from the transatlantic slave trade before campaigners like William Wilberforce pushed for change.
The Quakers set up the first formal anti-slavery groups in the late 1700s, petitioning Parliament to end the trade.
Slave Trade Act 1807 banned trading slaves on British ships; Slavery Abolition Act 1833 ended slavery across most of the Empire.
After abolition, the Royal Navy worked to stop other countries' slave ships and punish traders.

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