This book gave a refreshing viewpoint and a unique perspective of the European world in the Jacksonian era. I had never explored the effects of slavery outside of the United States and was amazed at the direct responses, reactions and impact that different countries slave driven economies’ had with each other. The vivid examples given in this reading help me visualize and formulate a general understanding of the key roles that were being played in the legislative, business and agricultural sectors. The American and English slavery abolition were similar because, both countries remained reliant …show more content…
For example, the book start out with the story of sailor and eventual abolitionist, John Newton; who originally viewed slavery as a necessary evil and a legitimate means to his wealth and prosperity . Eventually, John was convicted to leave the slave trade and assist in its abolition. The life was horrible to the crew and cargo and the cause of thousands of deaths. The journey was monotonous and intolerable, the majority of the captains found it extremely difficult to keep their crew sober. An intoxicated crew could be dangerous to the slaves and the master. It took a paralying fit to cause reform in Newton after which, he campaigned diligently for African equality until his death in 1807 the year that slave trade was abolished.
“The 1807 Act for the Abolition of the Slave Trade didn’t actually abolish slavery, just trading in slaves. So John’s campaign was not over. But as it stood, it allowed the British navy to declare slave-transporting ships as equivalent to pirates, and capture them to free the slaves and possibly execute the crew.” (Sarfati, 2007)
This was a positive and progressive step in the right direction for the extermination of bigotry and racial prejudices in the European world. Another key and influential person in the abolition of the slave trade was Daddy Sharp a minister and Jamaican