Abolitionist movements in Britain
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain British campaigns for abolition of slavery and the Haitian Revolution's role in strengthening these movements.
Key learning points
- In 1772 it was established that slavery went against English law and many people felt uneasy about Britain's role in it.
- People in Britain began to criticise the conditions on slave ships across the 'Middle Passage' to the Americas.
- The case of the Zong Massacre created public outrage in Britain at the conditions in which enslaved people were living.
- Groups and individuals such as Olaudah Equiano and William Wilberforce worked for abolition in Britain and its colonies.
- The Haitian Revolution created fear amongst British plantation owners about similar uprisings across the Caribbean.
Keywords
Habeas corpus - English law declaring detention or imprisonment as illegal if you have not committed a crime
Massacre - when many people are killed purposely in a violent manner
Abolition - the outlawing of enslavement by a particular country
Intolerable - being unable to bear an experience any longer
Common misconception
Abolition of slavery in Britain and its colonies was a response to a single event.
Abolition of slavery in Britain and its colonies was a response to a number of events and an ever-growing public demand for change.
Teacher tip
It is important to note that, after abolition, British slave-owners were compensated for the 'loss' of the enslaved people that were formerly their property.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Complete the following sentence: Saint-Domingue had been France's most prosperous colony in the during the 18th century.
Q2.In what year did Haiti declare its independence?
Q3.After Toussaint L'Ouverture was captured and transported back to France where he faced imprisonment and death, who took over the resistance in Saint-Domingue against France?
Q4.What did Toussaint L’Ouverture do when he learned of Napoleon’s plan to reinstate slavery in 1802?
Q5.Put the below events in chronological order, starting with the earliest:
Q6.What nationality were the portion of Leclerc's troops who switched sides to fight for the rebels against France?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What term refers to being unable to bear an experience any longer?
Q2.What was the proof for the British public that life for enslaved people was horrific?
Q3.Match the key figures of abolition to the correct description.
British Member of Parliament and abolitionist
leader of the Haitian Revolution
formerly enslaved man who published his autobiography
Q4.What term is used to refer to the fundamental right in English law that prevents people from unlawful imprisonment?
Q5.In what year did the Zong Massacre occur?
Q6.James was the enslaved man whose court case helped to establish in 1772 that enslavement in England and Wales was unlawful.
To help you plan your 9 history lesson on: Abolitionist movements in Britain, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 history lesson on: Abolitionist movements in Britain, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 history lessons from the The Haitian Revolution: what was its role in the abolition of the slave trade? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.