Britain's role in global trade during the 18th and 19th centuries brought both military glory and moral shame. The Napoleonic Wars produced famous victories, while the slave trade and its abolition remain among the most significant chapters in British history.
Key facts
- The Battle of Trafalgar (1805) was a naval victory over Napoleon's fleet. Admiral Nelson was killed during the battle.
- Trafalgar Square in London is named after the Battle of Trafalgar, and Nelson's Column stands in the centre.
- The Battle of Waterloo (1815) was the final defeat of Napoleon, led by the Duke of Wellington.
- Britain was heavily involved in the slave trade, transporting enslaved Africans to the Americas.
- William Wilberforce was a key campaigner for the abolition of the slave trade.
- The Slave Trade Act of 1807 made it illegal to trade slaves in British ships or from British ports.
- The Emancipation Act of 1833 abolished slavery throughout the British Empire.
- Quakers and other groups played important roles in the abolition movement.
In depth
During the Napoleonic Wars, Britain faced the threat of invasion from France. Two battles stand out as decisive moments. The Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 was a great naval victory that secured British control of the seas. It was commanded by Admiral Horatio Nelson, who was killed during the battle and became a national hero. Trafalgar Square in London, with Nelson's Column at its centre, commemorates this victory. Ten years later, the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 brought Napoleon's final defeat. The Duke of Wellington led the British forces, and the victory ended over two decades of war with France.
Alongside military triumphs, Britain's involvement in the transatlantic slave trade is a deeply troubling part of its history. British ships transported millions of enslaved Africans to work on plantations in the Caribbean and Americas. The campaign to end this trade was long and hard-fought. William Wilberforce, a Member of Parliament, was one of its leading voices. The Slave Trade Act of 1807 banned the trading of slaves in British ships, and the Emancipation Act of 1833 abolished slavery across the British Empire. The abolition movement involved many people, including the Quakers and formerly enslaved people who told their stories.
Know that the British Empire became the largest in history, and that Britain led the Industrial Revolution with new machines, factories, canals and railways. Be ready to link milestones to dates, such as the abolition of the slave trade in 1807, and to recognise Britain's central role in global trade.