Are slaves today the same as slaves 200 years ago?
200 years ago slaves were seen as chattel to be transported from Africa to the Americas and the Caribbean to be bought and sold. • In Britain until 1807 the trade was legal, morally legitimate and seen as in the interests of the nation. Slaves had a high financial value. • Today slavery is illegal, considered immoral and slaves have a low financial value but there are more slaves now than 200 years ago. Who resisted slavery 200 years ago? • First and foremost the slaves themselves. Toussaint L’Overture led a successful slave rebellion in St. Dominigue and defeated both the French and British armies • The Abolitionist movement both black and white like Cugoano and Equiano together with Sharp, Clarkson and Wilberforce • The public boycotting slave produced sugar How can slavery be ended today? • Through strong government action in their own country and by enforcing international agreements • By tackling poverty and discrimination linking combating slavery to long term development through
