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Boycotting

Many abolitionists understood the connection between goods produced using slave labour in the West Indies and the British consumer market, and realised that if consumer demand for sugar diminished it might hasten the end of the slave-trade. People were therefore urged not to purchase sugar that was produced in the West Indies. By 1792 it was estimated that up to 400,000 Britons were refusing to eat slave-grown sugar. 

18th century text reads, ' An Address to the People of Great Britain, proving the Necessity of refraining from Sugar and Rum in order to abolish the African Slave Trade'

Title page of An address to the People of Great Britain... 1791
[SR 051.6.A2 Volume 8 /1]

This classic anti-sugar pamphlet is generally accredited to William Fox (fl. 1791-1813). First published in 1791 it ran to at least 25 editions.

It is believed that James Wright (1739 - 1811), a Quaker and merchant of Haverhill, Suffolk issued this handbill around 1791 informing his customers that he would no longer be selling sugar.  He declares

"…..Therefore being impressed (as I have said) with the Sufferings and Wrongs of that deeply injured People, and also with an Apprehension, that while I am a Dealer in that Article, which appears to be a principal Support of the Slave-Trade, I am encouraging Slavery; I take this Method of informing my Customers, that I mean to discontinue selling the Article of SUGAR, (when I have disposed of the Stock I have on hand) 'till I can procure it through Channels less contaminated, more unconnected with Slavery, and less polluted with Human Blood……."

18th century text reads, ' Being impressed with a sense of the unparalleled Sufferings of our Fellow-Creatures, the African slaves...'

Handbill of James Wright of Haverhill [Tract Box L176 /37]

Role of women in the anti-slavery movement