William Wilberforce: The End of Slavery
I want a day when you let the oppressed go free.
Key words
- Activism: direct and noticeable action to achieve a political or social result
There has been a lot of political activism in the universities.
- Slave trade: the buying and selling of people especially of African people
Wilberforce began speaking out against the slave trade in Parliament.
- Conversion: a process in which someone changes to a new religion
Her conversion to Christianity was a very gradual process.
- Abolish: to end an activity or custom officially
I think bullfighting should be abolished.
- The Enlightenment: the period in the 18th century when many people began to emphasize the importance of science and reason
The Enlightenment was used to defend people against tyranny.
Read the article to find the answers
- What is William Wilberforce most famous for?
- What happened in his early twenties?
- What did he think the Enlightenment needed?
- Which organizations did he help to create?
His Calling
William Wilberforce was born into a wealthy family in England, in 1759. As a young man, he was not religious, but in his early twenties he had a profound experience that led him to become a committed Christian.
For Wilberforce, his faith was not just a private matter, it was something that had real-world implications for how he lived his life. He saw his faith as calling him to serve others, and work for justice. He believed that his position of privilege came with a responsibility to use his resources to help those less fortunate.