How long did William Wilberforce work on abolishing the slave trade?

Answer 1

It could be said that Wilberforce worked to abolish the slave trade for a good twenty years. In 1787, Wilberforce became leader of the parliamentary campaign of the Committee for the Abolition of the Slave Trade. Between 1789 and 1806, he attempted to pass numerous parliamentary bills against the slave trade, but was unsuccessful each time, as many of the members of parliament stood to profit from their own indirect involvement in the trade. It was not until 1806, when a change of tactics was suggested by maritime lawyer James Stephen, that Wilberforce achieved some success in his goal. The change of tactics involved introducing a bill to ban British subjects from aiding or participating in the slave trade to the French colonies. It was a smart move, as the majority of the ships were flying American flags, though manned by British crews and sailing out of Liverpool. The Foreign Slave Trade Act was quickly passed and the tactic proved successful. The final passing of Wilberforce's successful Abolition Bill occurred on 23 February 1807. The Slave Trade Act received the royal assent on 25 March 1807. This Act did not free those who were already slaves; it was not until 1833 that an act was passed giving freedom to all slaves in the British empire.