Slavery Abolition Act and the end of slavery in the British Empire

Background. The Slavery Abolition Act 1833 was an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which abolished slavery in the British Empire by way of compensated emancipation. The Reform Act 1832 cleared the way for a majority of members of the House of Commons to push through a law to abolish slavery itself throughout the British Empire.

Legislative Process. In March 1833, Edward Stanley took over as Secretary of State for the Colonies and introduced an abolition bill. The bill received royal assent on 28 August, and came into force the following year, on 1 August 1834. The results of inquiries contributed greatly to the abolition of slavery with the Slavery Abolition Act 1833.

Apprenticeship and Finance. Former slaves over the age of six were redesignated as "apprentices", with servitude gradually abolished in two stages. The first set of apprenticeships came to an end on 1 August 1838, while the final apprenticeships were scheduled to cease on 1 August 1840. To finance the payments, the British government took on a £15 million loan, finalised on 3 August 1835.

Implementation and Oversight. Fact-finding missions in 1836 gathered evidence that apprenticeships were not being fairly operated by planters. The Barbados legislature passed laws ending apprenticeships on 1 August 1838, prompted by Governor Sir Murray MacGregor. A successor organisation to the Anti-Slavery Society was formed in London in 1839 to work to outlaw slavery worldwide.