The change of the peoples’ views and perspectives has played a huge role in changing the course of history itself.
Slavery has existed for thousands of years, it’s origins tracing back to the very start of civilisation. However, the most well-known and impactful slave trade would be the Atlantic Slave Trade, or the Middle Passage (which was the first known international slave trade). This refers to a specific leg in the journey, of the Triangular Trade, a term used to describe the common trade route during this time period.
On the eve of the American Revolution, slavery was accepted as the norm and practiced widely. From the 16th to the 18th century, almost all major European Powers played a big role in the promotion of slavery, with the …show more content…
However, during the 18th century, in a time period referred as the ‘Age of Enlightenment’ by modern historians, new ideas about the rights of individuals began to form, inspired mainly by the French Revolution. Although the early abolitionist movement dates from the late 18th century, there was opposition against slavery itself and the Atlantic slave trade even before this time period. For example, notable figures, such as French philosophers Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Montesquieu, expressed their dislike of the Atlantic slave trade. Montesquieu even stated that “Slavery is not useful to the master or the slave to him because he can not do anything by virtue in this, because he gradually becomes accustomed to violate all the moral virtues, he became proud swift, hard, angry, voluptuous, and cruel ”- (quoted from …show more content…
Those who supported the revolution believed strongly in freedom and equality, therefore, causing them to question the legitimacy of slavery. As Benjamin Rush, a physician and revolutionist wrote, “It would be useless for us to denounce the servitude to which the Parliament of Great Britain wishes to reduce us, while we continue to keep our fellow creatures in slavery just because their colour is different.” - (Quoted from Civil Rights at the crossroads, Bolick, C.) This statement signified the rapid change of the peoples’ views, not only towards the concept of slavery, but towards slaves themselves, as
Slavery has existed for thousands of years, it’s origins tracing back to the very start of civilisation. However, the most well-known and impactful slave trade would be the Atlantic Slave Trade, or the Middle Passage (which was the first known international slave trade). This refers to a specific leg in the journey, of the Triangular Trade, a term used to describe the common trade route during this time period.
On the eve of the American Revolution, slavery was accepted as the norm and practiced widely. From the 16th to the 18th century, almost all major European Powers played a big role in the promotion of slavery, with the …show more content…
However, during the 18th century, in a time period referred as the ‘Age of Enlightenment’ by modern historians, new ideas about the rights of individuals began to form, inspired mainly by the French Revolution. Although the early abolitionist movement dates from the late 18th century, there was opposition against slavery itself and the Atlantic slave trade even before this time period. For example, notable figures, such as French philosophers Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Montesquieu, expressed their dislike of the Atlantic slave trade. Montesquieu even stated that “Slavery is not useful to the master or the slave to him because he can not do anything by virtue in this, because he gradually becomes accustomed to violate all the moral virtues, he became proud swift, hard, angry, voluptuous, and cruel ”- (quoted from …show more content…
Those who supported the revolution believed strongly in freedom and equality, therefore, causing them to question the legitimacy of slavery. As Benjamin Rush, a physician and revolutionist wrote, “It would be useless for us to denounce the servitude to which the Parliament of Great Britain wishes to reduce us, while we continue to keep our fellow creatures in slavery just because their colour is different.” - (Quoted from Civil Rights at the crossroads, Bolick, C.) This statement signified the rapid change of the peoples’ views, not only towards the concept of slavery, but towards slaves themselves, as