Why did Britain end slavery?

Britain ended slavery because it was deemed to be a cruel and barbaric practice that could not be justified in a civilised society. In 1785 slavery had been abolished in the British Isles but was still legal in many British Colonies.

By 1783, an anti-slavery movement to abolish the slave trade throughout the Empire was begun.

In 1785, English poet William Cowper wrote: "We have no slaves at home - Then why abroad? Slaves cannot breathe in England; if their lungs receive our air, that moment they are free. They touch our country, and their shackles fall. That's noble, and bespeaks a nation proud. And jealous of the blessing. Spread it then, And let it circulate through every vein."

Slavery was officially abolished in most of the British Empire on 1 August 1834