A Letter on the Abolition of the Slave Trade / Addressed to the freeholders and other inhabitants of Yorkshire

Name: A Letter on the Abolition of the Slave Trade / Addressed to the freeholders and other inhabitants of Yorkshire
Author: William Wilberforce

By William Wilberforce

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Essays, Letters & Speeches History - British History - Modern (1750+)

About This Book

The pamphlet assembles factual evidence and moral argumentation to urge ending the transatlantic slave trade. Drawing on reports, testimonies, and statistics, the author details how captives are procured in Africa, the brutal middle passage, and the degrading abuses on plantations that reduce population and punish humanity. Common objections are answered: claims of racial inferiority, supposed benefits to African societies, and economic or naval harms are examined and rebutted with empirical and moral reasoning. The text contrasts immediate abolition with gradual schemes, argues that reform of abuses would allow natural increase, and anticipates political and religious counterarguments while outlining expected humanitarian and commercial consequences.

About the Author

William Wilberforce

William Wilberforce (1759-1833) was a prominent British politician, philanthropist, and a leading campaigner for the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade. He is best known for his tireless efforts in Parliament, where he introduced numerous bills aimed at ending slavery, culminating in the passage of the Slavery Abolition Act in 1833. In addition to his political activism, Wilberforce was a devout Christian and wrote extensively on the moral implications of faith and society. His notable works include "A Letter on the Abolition of the Slave Trade," which addressed the ethical concerns surrounding slavery, and "A Practical View of the Prevailing Religious System of Professed Christians," which critiqued the disconnect between professed beliefs and genuine faith.