1807 British Abolition and the Campaign That Ended the Slave Trade

The Atlantic Slave Trade: Empire Built on Human Suffering — Fexingo History · Jul 28, 2026 · 5m · transcript

In 1807, Britain banned its own participation in the transatlantic slave trade after a decades-long grassroots campaign. This episode traces the movement from its roots—led by figures like William Wilberforce, Thomas Clarkson, and Olaudah Equiano—through mass petitions and parliamentary debates. It explores the immediate impact of the Abolition Act, the Royal Navy's uneven enforcement, and the loopholes that allowed illegal trafficking to continue under other flags. We also examine the parallel 1808 U.S. ban on slave imports and how both laws reshaped but did not end the Atlantic slave…