Question

In 150 to 200 words, use evidence to compare ideas of abolition of the slave trade and the abolition of slavery

Answer 1

Many believed the idea that if the slave trade were abolished then the institution of slavery would disappear shortly after. Evidence of this idea can be seen in the Constitution of the United States. Many compromises were created during the drafting of the Constitution. One of the smaller pieces of one of those compromises was the outlawing of the slave trade in the early 1800's. Many who despised the practice and institution of slavery saw this as a great victory. They assumed that when slaves could no longer be brought into the country then the practice and institution of slavery would simply die out. They miscalculated the importance that southern plantation owners placed on slavery. They also seemed to forget or not think about the possibility of people being "born into" the institution. While the importation and sale of people became illegal, the practice and institution of slavery continued as more and more people were born into the institution. Many saw the slave trade as barbaric and cruel. Much of this evidence can be seen both in America and abroad as people became more aware and outraged at the conditions and treatment of people aboard these ships. There are countless articles and drawings depicting the conditions and how the slaves were "packed" in. England's Supreme Court resided over several slave trade cases that had an impact both upon it's empire and America, even after the Revolution and Independence. One case, Zong Massacre Trial, can be seen in the movie, Belle. The movie depicts and shows some of the shifting attitudes within England over the brutal conditions that the slave trade was often associated with. It is rather interesting how the slave trade was so often seen as brutal and wrong and versus the actual institution of slavery, which would continue in America until the mid 1860s and even more recently in other parts of the world. The working individuals already on farms and in homes and their mistreatment was not seen as wrong, but as a result of their actions or misbehavior (or perceived misbehavior). This can be seen in many speeches, sermons, and letters prior to the Civil War.