The Slave Trade
Slavery was illegal in Britain, but still it was carried on in colonies in America.
Slaves came mainly from West Africa and from there they were transported in bad conditions to the colonies in America and Caribbean.
They were working on tobacco and sugar plantations where conditions were very bad.
There were anti-slavery groups in Britain like Quakers who in late 1700s petitioned to Parliament to ban slavery.
The other Christian activist- abolitionist working to end slavery was William Wilberforce.
These movements finally succeeded and in 1807 it became illegal to trade slaves in British ports or on British ships.
In 1833 abolition reached whole British Empire (Emancipation Act).
The Royal Navy stopped slave ships from other counties and freed the slaves also punishing slave traders.
After 1833, 2 millions of Indian and Chinese workers were employed to replace the slaves.
The American War of Independence
Around 1760 the colonies in America were large and basically self governed.
Many colonist went to America to avoid religious prosecutions.
Colonists were well educated and interested in liberal ideas.
The British government wanted to tax colonies what was taken as an act on their freedom.
Colonists opposed paying taxes what lead to to fights with British forces.
In 1776, 13 American colonies declared the independence stating that they have right to establish their own governments.
British were finally defeated and they accepted independence of colonies in 1783.
War with France
Britain fought lots of wars with France in 18 century.
In 1789 after French Revolution, new French government declared war on Britain which was continued by Napoleon Bonaparte.
British fought against joined Spanish and French fleet and won Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
During this battle famous admiral Nelson was killed.
He is memorised by columns located on Trafalgar Square and his ship Victory can be visited in Portsmouth.
In 1815 Napoleon was finally defeated by Duke of Wellington at the Battle of Waterloo ( actually he was defeated by joined German armies but it is not widely known fact).
Wellington, also know as “the Iron Duke” became Prime Minister.
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