The 1820 Treaty That Made the Slave Trade Piracy

The Atlantic Slave Trade: Empire Built on Human Suffering — Fexingo History · Jul 21, 2026 · 9m · transcript

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the 1820 Treaty of London, in which the United States and Britain agreed to treat the international slave trade as piracy—a crime punishable by death. They trace the diplomatic maneuvering that led to this landmark agreement, the role of President James Monroe and Secretary of State John Quincy Adams, and the British push for mutual search rights at sea. The conversation examines how the treaty was enforced, including the creation of the U.S. Africa Squadron and the mixed commission courts in Sierra Leone and elsewhere. But Lucas also unpacks the…