An Essay on the Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species, Particularly the African

Title: An Essay on the Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species, Particularly the African

Author: Thomas Clarkson

Publication Date: 1786

Subject: History, Slavery, Abolition

Slavery, Abolition, Clarkson, Africa, Triangle Trade, Middle Passage

An Essay on the Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species, Particularly the African is a seminal work in the history of the abolitionist movement. Written by Thomas Clarkson, a British abolitionist and philanthropist, the essay provides a comprehensive and damning indictment of the transatlantic slave trade.

Clarkson begins by tracing the history of slavery from its ancient origins to the 18th century. He then describes the transatlantic slave trade in detail, from the capture of enslaved Africans to their transportation across the Atlantic and their sale into slavery in the Americas. Clarkson pays particular attention to the horrific conditions on slave ships and the brutal treatment of enslaved Africans at the hands of their captors and owners.

Clarkson then argues that slavery is morally wrong and that the slave trade should be abolished. He bases his argument on a number of grounds, including the natural rights of all human beings, the teachings of Christianity, and the economic and political benefits of abolition.

Clarkson's essay was a powerful and influential work. It helped to raise public awareness of the evils of the slave trade and to build support for abolition. The essay also played a key role in persuading the British Parliament to pass the Slave Trade Act of 1807, which abolished the British slave trade.

An Essay on the Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species, Particularly the African is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of slavery, the abolitionist movement, or the transatlantic slave trade. Thomas Clarkson's seminal work provides a comprehensive and damning indictment of the slave trade and argues convincingly for its abolition.