Britain's Involvement in the Atlantic Slave Trade

By annabl
  • 1562

    The first English slave-trading expedition

    The first English slave-trading expedition
    This expedition was commanded by John Hawkins. He took three ships to Guinea where he kidnapped about 400 Africans and sold them in the West Indies. This event is significant because it represented the beginning of British involvement in the slave trade.

  • British expedition captures Jamaica

    British expedition captures Jamaica
    This was part of Cromwell's plan to acquire Spanish territories around the Caribbean. Admiral Sir William Penn and General Robert Venables led this expedition and started expelling the Spanish, but there were escaped slaves who had formed their own communities and would cause problems for the British later on.

  • The Royal African Company is founded

    The Royal African Company is founded
    The Royal African Company was an English mercantile company, set up to trade along the West coast of Africa. This company was established by King Charles II and it had a monopoly on the slave trade. This did not please merchants, because it meant they could not be a part of the slave trade, so it led to disagreement in England surrounding the slave trade.

  • Maroon Wars begin

    Maroon Wars begin
    These wars were conflicts between British authorities and the Jamaican Maroons. Edward Trelawny was the governor of the island during these wars, and after the first, he gave up control of part of the island. However, the British did win the second war, which resulted in the destruction of towns and crops, along with the deportation of hundreds of Maroons.

  • Colony for former slaves was established

    Colony for former slaves was established
    This colony was in Sierra Leone and was the first to provide refuge for freed slaves. This founding of this colony reflected abolitionist attitudes in Britain and foreshadowed the coming end of the British slave trade.

  • British Parliament abolishes the transatlantic slave trade

    British Parliament abolishes the transatlantic slave trade
    The Slave Trade Act attempted to bring the slave trade in Britain to an end, but it continued illegally for years after. The act was introduced by William Grenville and passed by Parliament. Anti-slavery sentiments had been growing among the British and this act represents the culmination of these attitudes.