How has slavery affected British history?

Why do young people today need to understand the transatlantic slave trade? Often when we look at museums, galleries, monuments or buildings which tell the story of Britain it is generally kings and leaders who are remembered rather than the ordinary people who took part in the same events.

There are not as many memorials which tell us about the history of the transatlantic slave trade even though Britain was involved for over two centuries. This has stopped British society understanding all the facts about the history of slavery. Various stately homes across the country were funded by money gained through slavery and major ports and cities such as Bristol and Liverpool were also built on this trade. The bicentenary of the Act for the Abolition of the Slave Trade has given us the opportunity to uncover some of the hidden facts.

This section gives you information about how the history of slavery has affected and changed British society.