William Wilberforce - and the abolition of slavery

Two hundred years ago, on 23 February 1807, the slave trade was abolished in the British Empire. The Bill received Royal Assent and became law on March 25, 1807.

This was due to the active campaigning of a number of people, including those in the Clapham Group and MP William Wilberforce.

William Wilberforce continued to campaign against the ownership of slaves - this was eventually passed by the Parliament on July 26, 1833 - just three days before Wilberforce died.

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William Wilberforce was a Christian MP who, along with others including John Newton - the former slave trader who wrote Amazing Grace - worked for many years to abolish slavery.

Thomas Clarkson's essay "An Essay on the Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species, Particularly the African"was published in 1787 and alerted many people about the issue of slavery and they subsequently campaigned for the abolition of slavery. Mr Wilberforce was a part of the Clapham Group which was active in various areas including opposing slavery and campaigning for morals.

William Wilberforce expressed his concerns this way in his diary on Sunday, October 28, 1787: “God Almighty has set before me two great objects, the suppression of the slave trade and the reformation of manners.” Source 1. Source 2.

William Wilberforce gave his first speech on the abolition of slavery in 1789. He put his first bill to abolish the slave trade using British ships in 1891. He put up 12 bills, and fought this issue for 18 years before a bill was finally passed.

The 'Act for the Abolition of the Slave Trade' was passed by the House of Lords on 4 February 1807 and by the Commons on 23 February 1807. The Bill received Royal Assent on 25 March 1807.

William Wilberforce continued to fight for 26 years to see the owning of slaves banned as well - this happened in 1833 just after his death (the Bill passed its final reading just three days before his death and became law the following month).
We printed a feature article in our March journal 2007 on William Wilberforce and his battle to abolish slavery, written by historian and theologian Dr Murray Adamthwaite (see below).

Reforming Society

Importantly William Wilberforce was involved in a large number of organisations and causes aimed at improving society - along with the Clapham Group.
In particular he campaigned for the 'reform of manners'.
He established the Society for Suppression of Vice and Encouragement of Religion in 1802.
Read the BBC history page on William Wilberforce's life. [Photo - BBC]
More on this aspect of his life below...

Amazing Grace - the movie

A feature length film showing the life of William Wilberforce and the battle to abolish the slave trade was released in 2007.
Click here for the official movie website - it includes a trailer.

A remarkable film that EVERYONE should see.
Even The Age M magazine listed it as the 'Movie of the week'!

William Wilberforce's influence on Australia

William Wilberforce and his impact on Australia
An enlightening lecture by Associate Professor Stuart Piggin.
Given in the Main Committee Room, Parliament House, Canberra on Monday 26 March 2007.
The lecture was hosted by Senator Guy Barnett.
The event was timed to coincide with the 200th anniversary of the signing of the English Bill that abolished the slave trade - 25th March 2007.
Lecture: William Wilberforce by Stuart Piggin

Society for the Suppression of Vice
William Wilberforce was also concerned about the state of society in general and particularly about behaviour and manners.
He was instrumental in the founding of the 'Society for the Suppression of Vice' to reform society. The Society began with King George III's Royal Proclamation in 1787 "For the Encouragement of Piety and Virtue, and for the Preventing and Punishing of Vice, Profaneness and Immorality", which had been made at Wilberforce's suggestion.
The Proclamation led to the formation of a Proclamation Society, which became the Society for the Suppression of Vice in 1802. Source.

This was based on the earlier 'Society for the Reformation of Manners' formed in 1691.

Articles and Information

Slave Trading Abolished? Don't Count on it!
by Dr Murray Adamthwaite.
The story of how William Wilberforce and others worked to abolish the slave trade in Britain. Very informative!
Published in Salt Shakers Journal, March 2007.

Anti-slavery activist William Wilberforce: Christian hero
CMI 20 Feb 2007.
Jonathan Sarfati, of Creation Ministries International, has just written an excellent article on this important topic. He also looks at the Biblical aspects of slavery.

Amazing Grace in Australia
Pastor Peter Rahme in Australia has written a pamphlet titled "The man and the story behind Amazing Grace'.
You can download the tract - or we have some available in the office - please send $1 for postage - or send a stamped self-addressed envelope.
Peter has just written an 80 page book on John Newton - this is now available from Salt Shakers.
'The Man and the story behind Amazing Grace'
Cost: $6 plus $2 postage.

Associated with the film launch in 2007:

Partnerships: The producers have developed partnerships with many Christian groups to promote and discuss the film and the ongoing problems of slavery around the world.

Amazing Change
There is also the Amazing Change project - aiming to combat the huge problem of slavery - they say 27 million people around the world are in slavery today. The problem is not 'over'!

Amazing Grace Sunday
The abolition of slavery was celebrated with Amazing Grace Sunday in the USA (18 Feb 2007) and UK (25 March). This site contains the words, and information about the song and John Newton. The words are also at here and here. (The final verse - 'When we've been there ten thousand years' was not written by John Newton).
Why not re-read the words of the hymn - and sing it at church.
Resources: There are video clips, presentations, teaching units, hymn words, etc.