THE SLAVERY MUSEUM OF ART & HISTORY

TEACHER COMMENT: MAKE SURE YOUR GROUP ’S THEME OR STORY IS MADE CLEAR

IN YOUR T ITLE AND SUB-T ITLE

The Road to Abolition

Students A, B, C, D.

Life Before the Slave Trade

This artifact is from the mid to 16th century and signifies the presence of African culture before the Europeans arrived on the continent. This artifact is of the head of an oba (king) and was used as a medium after death to contact spiritual ancestors and request the wealth of the kingdom. The Africans had much spiritual belief and traditions that had been passed down for thousands of years and was unfortunately lost while some bits of it were maintained during their times of slavery.

Student

Head of an Oba, circa 16th Century

Teacher comment: not clear how this relates to the story of abolition.

Beginning of the Slave Trade

Manillas were a form of currency in West Africa during the 16th century up to the 1930’s. The Europeans used them to buy slaves. In pursuit of profits, the slave trade expanded massively. Sadly, slaves were being treated as objects that could be sold and bought.

Manillas from West Africa

StudentTeacher comment: unclear how this relates to the story of abolition

Slave Trade Grew

This artifact is for an advertisement of sugar on January 13th, 1781. From the mid 16th century up until the end of the 18th century sugar was the most important crop farmed by the slaves on colonial land as it was highly demanded in Europe by the elite class. This high demand for sugar brought upon high demand for slave labour; this cycle resulted in the largest exportation of slaves from the African continent than any other period during the active slave years.

Student

Advert for Sale of Sugar, 1781

Teacher comment: unclear how this relates to story of abolition.

Conditions Became Harsher

This whip was made out of bark from a lace tree. Throughout the slave trade, it was used to beat slaves in plantations. Due to the higher demand for goods, more labour was required from the slaves. As a result, whips were used to enforce the slaves to work in harsher working conditions, which thereby increased labour productivity.

Whip Used on Plantation

Student

Teacher Comment: unclear how this relates to story of abolition.

Protesting Against Slavery

John Wesley (1703-1791) was a strong advocate for the abolition of slavery as well as, along with his brother, a founder of the Methodist Church and movement in the 18th century. Here, he is shown giving a sermon in the "New Room", known now as the oldest Methodist chapel in the world. One of the first to speak out as an abolitionist, he used his platform as a preacher and head of the Church to protest the slave trade. He also published Thoughts upon Slavery in 1774, a pamphlet in which he made public his disdainful views on slavery.

John Wesley Oil Painting by John Renton, circa 16th to 17th century

Student

Teacher Comment: indirectly relates to story of abolition.

The Abolition Movement

This document, created on March 25, 1807, is the result of years of campaigning by abolitionists to bring an end to the slave trade. As a result of the determined efforts of abolitionist leaders such as John Wesley, the movement to end the slave trade received public support. Consequentially, the British government created this document, which abolished the slave trade in all of Britain’s territories and ships on May 1, 1807.

An Act for the Abolition of the Slave Trade, 25th March 1807

Student

Teacher Comment: indirect relationship to story of abolition.

Emancipation Campaign Raises Awareness

This painting, entitled “St. John Preaching in the Wilderness,” (1822, painted by Samuel Colman) depicts an African slave innocently kneeling before Europeans, pleading for help. The image of the kneeling African was commonly seen during the abolition campaign on such things as china plates and pamphlets. Although the slave trade had been abolished, slavery continued to exist to meet the demand for plantation products. As a result, Europeans continued to revolt and spread awareness in attempts to end the slave trade. Art was one of the methods employed by abolitionists to educate the European public.

St. John Preaching in the Wilderness by Samuel Colman, 1822

Student

Teacher Comment: how did Europeans revolt? Education shows relationship to story of abolition.

End to Slavery

This silver medallion is engraved with the everlasting words: "LIBERTY PROCLAIMED TO THE CAPTIVES". The date on this coin is marked "1st August 1834" and it was released as a commemoration of the abolition of slavery. It depicts a slave amongst working companions breaking free from his chains, which are visible in his hands. He is also basking in the glory of the sunlight, as if he's witnessing the start of a new era and effectively, the abolition of cruelty.

Student

Commemorative Medallion, 1834

Teacher Comment: Describes the object, relates to abolition. However, as the last object it should pull together ideas from previous slides. Is it propaganda given that planters were compensated more than former slaves?

List of Who did What

Please fill in for your group.