SLAVERY ABOLITION ACT Meaning and
Definition
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The Slavery Abolition Act is a legislation enacted in various countries with the aim of eradicating and prohibiting the practice of slavery. Specifically, the act refers to the British Slavery Abolition Act of 1833, which was a landmark law passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
The Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 marked a significant turning point in the fight against slavery, as it paved the way for the emancipation of slaves in the British Empire. The act received royal assent on August 28, 1833, and came into effect on August 1, 1834. It outlawed slavery in most British colonies and granted freedom to approximately 800,000 enslaved individuals.
According to the act, all slaves under the age of six were immediately emancipated, while those over six years old were considered apprentices and required to provide unpaid labor for a transition period, varying from six to twelve years. Slave owners were granted financial compensation for the loss of their "property," which was paid from taxpayers' money.
The Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 represented a major achievement in the worldwide movement against slavery, as it served as a catalyst for the abolition of slavery in various other nations. It marked a shift in public opinion in favor of human rights and set an example for subsequent anti-slavery campaigns. The act contributed to the gradual decline of the transatlantic slave trade and played a pivotal role in shaping the modern understanding and condemnation of slavery as a severe violation of basic human rights.
