The problem of anti-slavery in the 'age of capital', c. 1830-1888
This thesis explores the relationship between Britain and transatlantic slavery in the post-emancipation period. Following West Indian emancipation various types of British capitalists continued to profit from both the slave trade and slave-ownership. These economic connections had to be rationalised within a Britain politically and ideologically committed to anti-slavery. I propose that the British government, abolitionists, and capitalists were faced with the problem of anti-slavery, namely the question of whether it was possible to operate morally in an Atlantic economy built upon chattel slavery. I explore a number of controversies relating to both British slave-ownership and involvement in the transatlantic slave trade. I argue that these debates must be considered as part of a longer tradition of slavery apologism that stretched back to the struggles over slave trade abolition and West Indian emancipation. In doing so I complicate our understanding of Britain as anti-slavery nation. Debates over British involvement of in transatlantic slavery blended economic and moral arguments. As such my thesis stresses the historically contingent nature of appeals to economic rationality, a key strategy of British
Kelly, J. G.
The problem of anti-slavery in the 'age of capital', c. 1830-1888. This thesis explores the relationship between Britain and transatlantic slavery in the post-emancipation period. Following West Indian emancipation various types of British capitalists continued to profit from both the slave trade and slave-ownership. These economic connections had to be rationalised within a Britain politically and ideologically committed to anti-slavery. I propose that the British government, abolitionists, and capitalists were faced with the problem of anti-slavery, namely the question of whether it was possible to operate morally in an Atlantic economy built upon chattel slavery. I explore a number of controversies relating to both British slave-ownership and involvement in the transatlantic slave trade. I argue that these debates must be considered as part of a longer tradition of slavery apologism that stretched back to the struggles over slave trade abolition and West Indian emancipation. In doing so I complicate our understanding of Britain as anti-slavery nation. Debates over British involvement of in transatlantic slavery blended economic and moral arguments. As such my thesis stresses the historically contingent nature of appeals to economic rationality, a key strategy of British
problem anti_slavery age capital explores_relationship britain transatlantic slavery post emancipation period following west_indian emancipation various_type british capitalist continue profit slave_trade slave ownership economic connection rationalise within britain politically ideologically commit anti_slavery propose british_government abolitionist capitalist face problem anti_slavery namely question_whether possible operate morally atlantic economy build_upon slavery explore number controversy relate british slave ownership involvement transatlantic slave_trade argue debate must_consider part longer tradition slavery stretch back struggle slave_trade abolition west_indian emancipation complicate britain anti_slavery nation debates british involvement transatlantic slavery blend economic moral argument stress historically contingent nature appeal economic rationality key strategy british