when was slavery defined in law and custom
Slavery in international law The concept has its roots in the 1807 Abolition of Slavery Act of Great Britain. Many academics in the field perceive this as the beginning of the end of the traditional form of slavery: chattel slavery. In the 19th century, Britain controlled the majority of the world through its colonies. Consequently, in passing this law to abolish slavery, the British Parliament abolished slavery in the vast majority of its colonies.
Slavery in the British and French Caribbean William Wilberforce's Slave Trade Act 1807 abolished the slave trade in the British Empire. It was not until the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 that the institution finally was abolished, but on a gradual basis.[19] Since slave owners in the various colonies (not only the Caribbean) were losing their unpaid labourers, the government set aside Â£20 million for compensation but it did not offer the former slaves reparations.[20][21]