66. Wilberforce and the Fight for Freedom

Anita Anand and William Dalrymple host Michael Taylor, author of "The Interest," to discuss the history of British abolitionism, focusing on William Wilberforce and the anti-slavery movement. They debunk the myth that Britain single-handedly ended slavery, highlighting that the abolition of the slave trade in 1807 did not end slavery itself, which continued to thrive with over 700,000 slaves in British colonies. The discussion covers the legal status of enslaved Africans, the impact of events like the Zong massacre, and the role of Quakers and evangelicals in the movement. They explore Wilberforce's background, motivations, and the political strategies employed to push for abolition, as well as the economic and religious arguments against it. The conversation also touches on the complexities and contradictions within the abolitionist movement, including Wilberforce's views on Christianizing India and the continued resistance to ending slavery even after the slave trade was outlawed.