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Abolition of slavery

Study note

The ending of slavery in the British Empire happened in two stages, and it is important to keep the two dates in the right order. In 1807 it became illegal to trade slaves on British ships, which ended Britain's part in the slave trade. Campaigners such as William Wilberforce worked hard to bring this about.

Slavery itself, the holding of people as slaves, was not abolished throughout the British Empire until 1833, when the Emancipation Act was passed. So the slave trade was abolished first, in 1807, and slavery itself was abolished later, in 1833. A common trick is to swap these two dates, so remember that the earlier date, 1807, deals with the trade, and the later date, 1833, abolishes slavery across the whole Empire.

Memory tip: 1807 trade abolished; 1833 slavery itself abolished.

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Question 1 of 2

In which year was slavery abolished throughout the British Empire?

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Show all questions and answers for Abolition of slavery(2 questions with explanations)

Abolition of slavery: questions, answers and explanations

  1. 1. In which year was slavery abolished throughout the British Empire?

    • 1707
    • 1945
    • 1066
    • 1833

    Correct answer: 1833

    Slavery was abolished across the British Empire in 1833 (the slave trade had ended in 1807).

  2. 2. Which of these statements is correct?

    • The slave trade was abolished in 1807 and slavery itself in 1833
    • Slavery itself was abolished in 1807 and the slave trade in 1833

    Correct answer: The slave trade was abolished in 1807 and slavery itself in 1833

    The slave trade ended in 1807; slavery itself was abolished across the Empire in 1833.

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