Table of Content

Title Page
Acknowledgement ……………………………………………………………1
Statement of Problem ……………………………………. …………………..2
Rationale ………………………………………………….…………………..3
Introduction …………………………………………………………………..4
Collection of Data ……………………………………….. …………………..5
Conclusion ……………………………………………….. …………………..
Appendix ……………………………………………………………………..
Bibliography …………………………………………….................................
 Acknowledgement
It is my great desire to thank those who made it possible for the completion of this study. First and
foremost, I would like to thank God for giving me the strength and wisdom to carry out this SBA.
The persons in my community for their great support and cooperation. My teacher Mrs.Jones for
assisting me in means necessary and my friends and family for motivating me.
 Statement of Problem

Metropolitan Movement
What effect did the Emancipation Process had on the British Colony in the nineteenth century?
 Rationale
The researcher selected this topic to be more knowledgeable about the effects the revolts had
on the emancipation process in the nineteenth century.
The nineteenth century emancipation process had a massive impact on the slave trade and on
slavery. Many of the Revolutionary leaders, such as, William Wilberforce, Granville Sharp and
Toussaint L’Ouverture, along with many others, played a critical role in executing freedom.
 Introduction

The Negro’s Complaint

By William Coupar
Still in thought as free as ever
What are England’s rights, I ask,
Made from my delight to sever,
Me to torture, me to ask?
Fleecy locks, and black complexion
Cannot forfeit Nature’s claim;
Skins may differ, but affection
Dwells in white and black the same.

In the 16th -18thcentury there was multiple revolts against slavery and the slave trade. These revolts
had a great impact on the nation. Many lives ended and plantations were destroyed. British colonies
and leaders decided to take action against the slave trade and slavery. It was the first time in history
that any society thought it was wrong to enslave other human beings.
Some of these societies had laws protecting slaves and religious texts which said that masters
benefited spiritually from treating their slaves kindly. 1 Britain on the other hand had become so
advanced in technology that slavery was no longer necessary. Persons were working to put the
enslavement of African slaves to an end, which had to be done in stages. These politicians became
the best-known leader of the abolition movement. William Wilberforce rejected a suggestion that
all enslaved Africans brought illegally into British territories should be freed (1814)

1
Caribbean History for CSEC by Kevin Baldeosingh and Radica Mahase ( page91)
 Collection of Data

Thomas Buxton introduced the Emancipation Bill in 1833. Wilberforce, its former champion was
approaching his death. By the time he died on 29 July 1833he was assured that emancipation would
go through, as it had already passed its second reading. The act stated that: ‘Slavery shall be and
is hereby utterly and forever abolished and declared unlawful throughout the British colonies and
possessions abroad’. However, in 1833 emancipation was not as complete as these words would
suggest, because there were clauses in the Act about an apprenticeship system which delayed
complete emancipation until 1838.
The Bill proposed a loan of £15 000 000 to slave owners from British government, with an
apprenticeship period for 12 years. Due to this, most slaves in the 1833 would have died in slavery.
These two clauses were amended and the final Act was as follows.
1. Slave children under six years old were to be freed immediately.
2. Slaves over six would have to serve an apprenticeship of six years in the case of field
slaves, and four years in the case of all others.
3. Apprentices should work for not more than forty-five hours per week without pay, and any
additional hours with pay.
4. Apprentices should be provided with food and clothing by the master.
5. Compensation in the form of a free gift of £20 000 000 should be paid to slave-owners
throughout the British empire on condition that the local legislatures passed laws to bring
emancipation.
6. The apprenticeship period could be shortened, but no alternative to apprenticeship would
be allowed.

On 29 August 1833 the Act received Royal Assent. Emancipation was to come into effect on 1
August 1834. Orders-in-Council enforced it on the Crown Colonies. In the other colonies, the local
legislatures were expected to follow suit, and since they wanted their compensation, they enacted
emancipation laws quickly.