How successful was the Anti-Slavery Society in bringing about the abolition of the slave trade and slavery?

This lesson evaluates the work and impact of the Society for Effecting the Abolition of the Slave Trade while developing students’ historical thinking, literacy and enquiry skills.

Ideal for KS3 and as an introduction to GCSE themes of reform, protest and human rights, the lesson encourages students to evaluate how individuals and organisations campaigned for change.

Students begin by investigating the economic, moral, political and religious reasons why increasing numbers of people opposed slavery. They consider the different motivations behind abolition before examining how these arguments influenced public opinion and Parliament.

The lesson then explores the contributions of William Wilberforce, Granville Sharp, Thomas Clarkson and Olaudah Equiano. Through a series of case studies, students assess the role each individual played in the campaign against slavery before reaching a judgement about the overall effectiveness of the Anti-Slavery Society.

Students also investigate opposition to abolition through a Heads and Tails activity, exploring the arguments used by supporters of slavery alongside the responses of abolitionists. Source extracts and quotations from both sides of the debate encourage discussion, interpretation and balanced historical judgement.

The lesson concludes with a scaffolded extended writing task in which students explain and evaluate the success of the Anti-Slavery Society, followed by an engaging plenary activity requiring students to unscramble key historical terminology and consolidate their learning.

Fully planned and ready to teach, the lesson promotes historical enquiry, source analysis, significance, cause and consequence, and extended historical writing.

Included in this lesson:
Fully editable PowerPoint
Printable worksheets and differentiated activities
Case studies on Wilberforce, Sharp, Clarkson and Equiano
Source extracts, quotations and source analysis activities
Scaffolded extended writing task and plenary consolidation activity
Suggested teaching strategies throughout

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