Slavery versus Abolition in the British Dominions

[Galveston Bay]

As of 1788, slavery is allowed throughout the British Dominion except for the Home Dominions of Britain and Ireland..  Court cases have made it clear over the last decade that the existing laws in both Dominions preclude it.

However, it is legal in British North America, the British Antilles and Florida, British India and Ceylon, British South Africa, and British East India trading posts, as well as the British West Africa Company posts in Africa itself.  

By special dispensation, the Colonies of the Falkland Islands and Newfoundland have passed local legislation placing themselves under British law for that purpose and so slavery is outlawed there.

The British (and American) Slave trade has had a substantial insurance requirement placed on it, in light of the report that showed up to 20% of the sailors (and ships) in that trade are lost each year, as well as special and substantial requirements for payouts to survivors of those lost.  

In the British Parliament, Wilberforce and Pitt are doing what they can to end the trade, while opposing them are 74 MPs who own or are affiliated with estates in the Caribbean (The London Society of West India Planters and Merchants), while in North America there are similarly strong vested interests in favor of slavery as well as some voices calling for its end and indeed some Americans who believe that all men are created equal are finding that it is a difficult statement to make while owning slaves.

Only in Ireland is there no support for slavery and indeed men like William De Burgh and the noted writer James Stanfield are pushing for legislation to restrict Irish ships from participating in the trade and pressing the British Parliament and Crown to do more..

Thus is situation in 1788......

[Haneastic]

In British North America, the cause of abolition begins to spread, spurred on by the various steps the homeland has taken to curtail the activity within it's empire. By 1790 Slavery has been outlawed by New York, Pennsylvania, and all of Greater New England (including the recently gifted territories from England). Abolitionists agitate in New Jersey, which seems likely to be the one to fall next. However, the remaining states seem like harder sells, due to their larger slave populations, populations more amenable to slavery as a whole, and large parts of their economy built on the back of slavery.

Slavery soon begins to appear to be a major issue dividing North America. The admission of the anti-slave Vermont and Maine, along with the northern states from England, threaten to unbalance the natural order, although the pro-slavery elements see 2 new pro-slave states (Kentucky and Tennessee) on the horizon, which will help strengthen their hand. Continued settlement further west in the south will hopefully increase their leverage and help offset the settlement of the Ohio River valley by New Englanders.

In the Legislature, however, the abolitionists have taken up the case of banning the import of slaves. With the Atlantic slave trade dwindling, and rising costs and limited support from England due to their recent parliamentary actions, the formal banning of the import of slaves is enacted in 1790.

[Ottoman]

In British North America, the cause of abolition begins to spread, spurred on by the various steps the homeland has taken to curtail the activity within it's empire. By 1790 Slavery has been outlawed by New York, Pennsylvania, and all of Greater New England (including the recently gifted territories from England). Abolitionists agitate in New Jersey, which seems likely to be the one to fall next. However, the remaining states seem like harder sells, due to their larger slave populations, populations more amenable to slavery as a whole, and large parts of their economy built on the back of slavery.

Slavery soon begins to appear to be a major issue dividing North America. The admission of the anti-slave Vermont and Maine, along with the northern states from England, threaten to unbalance the natural order, although the pro-slavery elements see 2 new pro-slave states (Kentucky and Tennessee) on the horizon, which will help strengthen their hand. Continued settlement further west in the south will hopefully increase their leverage and help offset the settlement of the Ohio River valley by New Englanders.

In the Legislature, however, the abolitionists have taken up the case of banning the import of slaves. With the Atlantic slave trade dwindling, and rising costs and limited support from England due to their recent parliamentary actions, the formal banning of the import of slaves is enacted in 1790.

The pro slave members of the parliament push back and demand clarification on the importation ban. They will signal they will accept the bill for Anglo-American ships from bringing slaves. They don't agree to a ban on third party ships coming from Dutch,Spanish or Danish slave ships. They threaten to block the bill from formal passing until this is addressed. Any attempt to undermine the economy of the Southern Colonies, will not have the backing of the southern members of parliament.

[Galveston Bay]

Summer 1789
The British Parliament begins hearings regarding the slave trade and its potential abolition after a substantial grass roots campaign involving hundreds of thousands of signatures demands such.

This is the first successful grass roots political movement in British history however hearings will continue for months to come and well into 1790

[Galveston Bay]

1790
The slave revolt in Haiti is viewed with a great deal of alarm in the British Caribbean and American South, but it is also considered a matter of grave concern and an issue for the safety of the realm in London.

The biggest concern is that many of the British Caribbean islands have larger slave populations than of Whites overall. This is again considered a matter of the gravest concern.

Witnesses are called into Parliament in the ongoing Wilburforce/Pitt investigations on the Slave Trade. Some voices are already calling for increasing restrictions, while others are calling for an end to the importation of slaves due to the threat of revolt.

[Haneastic]

The American legislature agrees to a compromise where the ban on importation of slaves will be delayed 10 years, after which such practice will be forbidden, the pro-slave states proving their aggressive tactics and deal-making being able to delay the inevitable for a short time.

[Galveston Bay]

1791
The British Army is given permission to raise an infantry division to be recruited from Freed Blacks and indeed is allowed to purchase likely specimens who are willing to swear the appropriate oaths as the West Indian Division. Officers and senior NCOs will remain European, and they will be brigaded with European troops. Recruitment will be from South Florida and the British Antilles as well as Free Blacks from British North America who choose service.

The events in Haiti make it clear that to campaign in the Caribbean requires troops inured to local diseases.

[Ottoman]

1791
The British Army is given permission to raise an infantry division to be recruited from Freed Blacks and indeed is allowed to purchase likely specimens who are willing to swear the appropriate oaths as the West Indian Division.   Officers and senior NCOs will remain European, and they will be brigaded with European troops.  Recruitment will be from South Florida and the British Antilles as well as Free Blacks from British North America who choose service.  

The events in Haiti make it clear that to campaign in the Caribbean requires troops inured to local diseases.  

When news reaches, the Southern states of the North American Dominion react with horror of the news that Crown will be employing ex slaves or free blacks as troops of the Crown. Considering the remember of the Falkland war and the Spanish invasion, are still within living memory. They begin lobbying the North American Parliament and via their agents in London to restrict or limited where these troops can be deployed( In other words,not nowhere near White led colonies).

[Galveston Bay]

1791
The British Army is given permission to raise an infantry division to be recruited from Freed Blacks and indeed is allowed to purchase likely specimens who are willing to swear the appropriate oaths as the West Indian Division.   Officers and senior NCOs will remain European, and they will be brigaded with European troops.  Recruitment will be from South Florida and the British Antilles as well as Free Blacks from British North America who choose service.  

The events in Haiti make it clear that to campaign in the Caribbean requires troops inured to local diseases.  

When news reaches, the Southern states of the North American Dominion react with horror of the news that Crown will be employing ex slaves or free blacks as troops of the Crown.  Considering the remember of the Falkland war and the Spanish invasion, are still within living memory. They begin lobbying the North American Parliament and via their agents in London to restrict or limited where these troops can be deployed( In other words,not nowhere near White led colonies).

The British Army informs the Lord Lieutenant Benedict Arnold that he may inform the North American Parliament that any Black troops will be limited to service in the Caribbean or Africa

[Galveston Bay]

1791 Spring
In light of the serious concerns about the potential of rebellious slaves being moved from one Dominion to another and spreading the spectre of bloody revolt, the British Parliament passes a law that states that movement of Slaves from the Dominion of the Antilles or the Dominion of India or any Crown Colonies be subject to a 100% export tariff and a 200% tariff if imported from another Dominion not otherwise listed above.

The Irish Parliament outlaws the Slave trade as a legal cargo for vessels flying its flag or ships built or home ported in Irish waters beginning in 1800.   Slavery is already outlawed in Ireland itself.

An order of council is issued by the British and Irish governments, to be enforced by the American and Royal Navies, forbidding trade with the rebellious regions of French Haiti by any British Dominion or Crown Colony. The Irish Dominion quickly passes this as well, while the American Parliament is asked to pass this also. These orders are imposed on the other British Dominions and Crown Colonies.

[Haneastic]

The American parliament passes similar legislation to the British.

[Galveston Bay]

1792 The Secretary of State for War, Lord Cornwallis, along with Prince Frederick approach the North American Parliament with the following proposal

Is there support for the proposal of ending the slave trade by 1805, and over the next 25 years after that, converting chattel slaves to Serfs. In effect, the former slaves would owe the cost of their transportation and upkeep prior to the point to their former owners, payable through providing a portion (up to 50%) of what they grow to their former owner. The owner would provide them with sufficient land to farm to earn that, as well as feed themselves. Debts would be transferrable to their heirs (for the former slaves), and leaving the assigned land would require government permission as well as that of their landlords.

In effect debt peonage.

This is viewed as a long term solution to the threat of slave revolts while still protecting the very substantial capital investment of slavery and thus the economy.

Meanwhile this proposal hits the British Parliament

[Galveston Bay]

1793
Parliament passes the Caribbean Security Act and the Slave Trade Act.   Effective 1805 the Slave Trade is ended.  
The  following measures will go into effect
1.  All Slaves in the Caribbean Dominion, as well as those in the British East India Company are moved from Slavery to Debt Peonage (Serfdom) beginning 1805
2.  Former slaves and debt peons who serve in the British Army or Navy are considered Free Men at the end of 4 years of service.  Any former slaves who are already free remain so.  Serfs who volunteer for service do not require permission for this and the British Government will reimburse the debt owner for this.  However no more than 1 man per household may choose to serve the British Crown.
3.  No Merchant Ship which is based out of England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, the Isle of Man, any British Crown Colony or which belongs to the British East India Company may conduct the slave trade after 1805.  The British South Sea Company and British American Fur Trading and Hudson Bay Company are also subject to this.  
4.   The American Parliament is urged to adopt similar measures.
5.  Slaves can be drafted into British military service, however owners must be reimbursed (effective immediately).  
6.  Plantations as well as other slave owners are required to show that they are feeding and caring for their slaves to a level determined adequate by the local courts.  Inspectors are to be hired by these courts.  Violation of this Act will result in fines and transfer of slaves to serfdom.  
7.  Slave Owners are encouraged to adopt serfdom immediately, and those who do are allowed to write off the costs of this (in effect the debts so incurred by the former slave to serfdom status) on their taxes as losses until 1805.  
8.  The Royal Navy has the right to inspect ships flying the flags of the any British Dominion.  If conditions are found to be unsafe for the crew or slaves that are its cargo, that ship can be seized or fined depending on the severity of the conditions.   The Royal Navy will begin immediate patrols off the African Coast to enforce this.  
9.  The British West Africa Company is ordered to divest itself from the Slave Trade no later than 1805.   It is also given a monopoly on the trade of items from West Africa such as ivory, pelts, and other relevant goods from that area.

There is considerable resistance to this from The London Society of West India Planters and Merchants, however the recent full scale revolt and its clear success in French Santo Dominque makes it clear that the potential security problem, particularly as war has erupted on the Continent, makes it desirable to lesson the risk of such in British territory and possessions.  The considerable push by Abolitionists like Wilburforce provides a strong moral element as well.  Helping to sell the more conservative MPs who are not tied to slavery interests is the fact that serfdom will provide a substantial financial cushion to the slave owners, and this even helps some of them overcome their reluctance.  In the end the bill passes narrowly, but that is close enough

[Ottoman]

Mid 1793(OOC, I am assume you meant 1793 not 1794 in your post.)


Once news of the acts reaches the Cape Colony, the local newly arrived Anglo-Dutch population is most in favor of the acts. However local Boer population is less than please with acts and see it as threat to their livelihood. They send word of protest to the local British governor in Capetown.

Meanwhile some Boers debate about moving inland outside of Cape Colony lands to setup their own nations to be free of heavy handled European rule...

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