Who is William Wilberforce and what did he accomplish?
William Wilberforce was the member of Parliament in the late 18th century and early 19th century who was not content merely to observe and criticize the very self-indulgent, crude, and decadent world of the 18th century, Instead, he help to lead it to a much more civilized place – a place that became Victorian England. What did he do? • Over twenty difficult years, he led the campaign to abolish the British slave trade. His effort culminated in the passing of abolition legislation in Parliament in March of 2007. • He led England toward the emancipation of all slaves in the British Empire. He received word just days before he died in July 1833 that all slaves in the British Empire would be given their freedom by an Act of Parliament. • He worked for universal education – particularly for the poor • He found it intolerable that children were drafted to work sixteen to eighteen hours a day, six days a week, and so he initiated the first child labor laws in Britain./li> • He helped to pass
