How did Clarkson challenge the slave trade?

L/O – To organise the evidence Clarkson collected into counter-arguments in order to challenge the slave trade

Starter – Think back to last lesson. Which group of people benefited the most from the slave trade?

What did Clarkson do next?• Having identified the arguments put

forward to defend the slave trade, Clarkson travelled round the UK to find evidence in order to undermine those arguments.

• Clarkson’s travels would take him 35,000 miles around Britain and make him one of the best known men in the country. He spent the summer and autumn months touring the slave ports.

• The rest of his time was spent in Wisbech or London doing further research, writing up his findings and keeping in touch with local anti-slavery groups.

Know your enemy!• Before you look at the

evidence, remind yourself of the arguments put forward to defend the slave trade →

1. Fill in the first column of your evidence collection grid by using the arguments listed on this slide.

Challenging the first argument• ‘Africans were less

skilled than Europeans – white people were superior’

• But is this true? Use Clarkson’s notes here to help you challenge the first argument →

Mali – From the 1200 – 1400 A.D. the kingdom of Mali spread across much of the West Africa. It was 2000km wide and there was organised trade with

gold dust and farming produce being exported North. Cowrie shells were used as a form of currency

and gold, salt and copper were traded.

Songhay – Between 1450 to 1550, the Songhay kingdom grew very powerful and prosperous. It had

a well-organised system of government, the kingdom imported fabrics from Europe and it had a developed currency. Timbuktu became one of the

most important places of learning in the world with libraries and universities being built.

Ghana – The Kingdom of Ghana was a vast empire that covered an area the size of Western Europe. Between 800-1200 A.D. it traded in gold, salt and

copper. It was highly advanced and prosperous with an army of 200,000

London, early 1787

London, Witnesses

Kent, mid 1787

Bristol, late 1787

Liverpool, early 1788

Plymouth, mid 1788

Using the Evidence to Win Support• By the time Clarkson returned

from Plymouth in 1788 he had collected a great deal of evidence.

• However, to run a successful campaign requires more than just collecting evidence. You have to use the evidence to win support and influence people.

• This is the final part of your challenge.

Writing a Parliamentary Speech• Your final task is to use the evidence you have

collected to write a Parliamentary Speech to persuade Members of Parliament to abolish the slave trade.

• This will be an assessed piece of work therefore effort is required!

1. Read William Pitt’s speech first and answer the questions on the hand-out before you begin.

2. Draft your speech, making sure you defeat all five arguments put forward to defend the slave trade.

3. Type up your finished speech.