The Zong Massacre Trade In The British Empire

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The Zong Massacre
The Zong Massacre involved a mass murder of over 130 African slaves by the British soldiers who were ferrying them from the coast of Africa on 29 November 1781. More slaves than allowed had been bundled in the ship than it could accommodate in order to make a lot of profitsCITATION DRR14 \p 23 \l 1033 (DR. R. A. Milwood 23). Due to navigational mistake, the ship had to stay longer in the sea leading to shortage of supplies like drinking water and this forced the crew members to throw some slaves into the water hoping to cash in on the insurance money they took on the slaves’ lives which would ensure that the trader does not lose money after the death of slaves due to lack of drinking water. This deliberate move meant to also allow the crew members to survive on the little water and food they had. As such, the sick slaves were thrown out leading to the death of over 130 slaves. When the ship arrived in Jamaica, its owner claimed for insurance arguing that his ship lacked enough water and food leading to the death of 10 slaves. The court ruled in favor of the ship owner but the insurers appealed the case. A freed slave named Olaudah Equiano opened up about the mass massacre of slaves which evoked mixed reactions among the British people and various government bodies leading to the emergence of many anti-slavery activists and the Great Britain abolitionistsCITATION Mic18 \p 45 \l 1033 (Faubert 45). The abolitionist used the deaths of slaves to make people understand the horrors of the slave trade. The insurers were favored after the court decided that the slaves in the ship were not supplied with enough food and water. In light of this, this essay focuses on the significance of the Zong massacre in the abolition of slave trade in the British Empire.
The ill-treatment came to be known by everyone after the Zong slaves died, although the law never changed immediately following the Zong massacre. However, it brought many people in support of the end for slavery together and after the revelation by Oloudah about the Zong massacre, even more people were brought on board including Sharp who strongly supported the end of slaveryCITATION LLC10 \p 62 \l 1033 (LLC Books 62). In 1783 a presentation of a petition was made for the abolition of the slave trade and a lot of prominent people came together and formed an anti-slavery trade society. Because those who were responsible for the Zong deaths were never brought to justice, the victims did not get justice. There were motions taken to parliament to abolish slave trade throughout the British Empire and the Zong massacre brought about the abolitionist movement in Britain. As a result, the number of slave transportation was restricted in 1788 and in 1807 and the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade was prohibited in Britain. Slavery Abolition Act 1833 eliminated slavery in the British EmpireCITATION MNo08 \p 71 \l 1033 (Philip and Boateng 71).
The Zong owners claimed compensation which the insurers denied providingCITATION Jam142 \p 52 \l 1033 (Walvin, Atlas of Slavery 52). Its logbook was lost, which contained proof of the massacre. In Guildhall London on March 6, 1783, a court case was brought forward to sue the ship owners. E...