The Wardrobe; Scene 7 - Historial Research

Historical Event; 1805 Slave Trade Act

In 1805, House of Commons passed a bill that ruled it against the law for British people to capture and transport slaves from Africa. It was reviewed in the House of Lords who blocked this measure. It was not until 1806; when three opponents of the slave trade, voiced their campaign. Lord Grenville formed the Whig administration with Charles Fox. Along side William Wilberforce, they campaigned against slavery in the House of Lords. They're persuasion was successful and the law was carried out on the 25th March. 1807. It took 2 whole years for William Wilberforce's Slave Trade Act to become law.

This is a letter that William Wilberforce sent to the Free holders and other inhabitants of Yorkshire about the abolishment of slave trading. I have used this to show the historical evidence to back our scenes historical correctness.



Note: The law abolishes slave trade but not slavery.
Why? As the members of society chose to tactically aim on banishing slave trading so they stood a larger chance of succeeding and therefore making a larger impact on the views of slavery itself. If they were to just target slavery it would create a larger backlash and a massive social and political divide.
Culturally, this new law should have had an impact on religious beliefs; Exodus 21:16 "Whoever steals a man and sells him, be put to death. I believe that due to the bible condemning slavery, that Christians would be for the new law. That is just an example of how the culture may have positively been affected. It could negatively been affected by non religious folk who follow their own stance and have their own views and that may have decided that they had the right to slave trade which could cause some political backlash.
Also, the economy was obviously built upon on slave trading and by taking that investment out of the economy would have damaged businesses and the lives of the traders which could then be interpreted as the Government caring more for the slaves than its own people. Therefore a social effect.


Quotes used to persuade against Slave Trade
Lord Grenville; "Contrary to the principles of justice, humanity and sound policy"
Lord Grenville; "Not having abolished the trade long ago"
William Wilberforce; "You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know"
William Wilberforce; "If to be feelingly alive to the sufferings of my fellow- creatures is to be a fanatic, then I am one of the most incurable fanatics ever permitted to be at large"

Facts!
They won the vote in the House of Lords by 41 votes to 20 votes.
It took a total of 30 years to abolish the slave trade act altogether.

Relating to the Scene
Character: Winifred
Costume: Barely substantial clothing, cheap material, dirty.



Example of African women slave and her clothing.

Character: Jaffrey
Costume: High class, fitted, expensive use of exotic materials and cottons grown by their own slaves.
         
             Example of  a   Master of the house outfit in this era.                                    
Setting: High quality wardrobe, upper class child' bedroom. Only the best items for the Master of the house' son. The only rough, and un fitting object in the room will be the slave (only in Jaffrey's mind)
Music plays in the background; Beethoven symphony, composed between 1804 and 1808, the most recent and relatable to the scene - THE LINK to Beethoven Symphny 5

I think by understanding the scenes historical value and massive importance has allowed me to feel the realistic and naturalistic personality, emotion and movements this character would have used in this era. This will hopefully allow me to create a strong and well developed piece of acting.