Readers Respond to New Insights on Britain's Historical Ties to the Slave Trade
Quick Brief
Readers have responded to recent discussions surrounding a book by William Pettigrew regarding Britain's involvement in the transatlantic slave trade. The correspondence highlights how historical research, including University College London's Legacies of British Slavery project, demonstrates the profound economic impact of slavery on the nation. Commenters note that these historical financial ties and compensation payments shaped British institutions well beyond abolition.
What Happened?
Readers wrote in to respond to an article by William Pettigrew and his book, Britain’s Slave Traders: A Forgotten History. The letters discuss how Pettigrew's work, alongside prior research like University College London's Legacies of British Slavery project, illuminates the deep integration of the transatlantic slave trade into British society, economy, and politics.
Why It Matters
The discussion underscores the ongoing evolution in understanding how the transatlantic slave trade helped finance the Industrial Revolution and left a lasting economic and institutional footprint in Britain, including a massive national debt from abolition compensation payments that was only fully paid off in 2015.
Key Facts
- William Pettigrew authored the book Britain’s Slave Traders: A Forgotten History.
- University College London’s Legacies of British Slavery project previously documented compensation payments made to 46,000 individuals with financial interests in slave ownership at abolition in 1834.
- The £20m paid out in compensation is estimated to be worth around £17bn at 2019 prices, representing 40% of total government expenditure in 1834.
- The national debt incurred from these compensation payments was fully amortised in 2015.
- Historical analysis indicates that income and seed funding from the slave trade contributed to the British Industrial Revolution.
Compiled from 1 outlet
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