Lesson 5: The Road to Abolition (KS3 History)
The Resource Nest

This lesson explores why growing numbers of people began to challenge and oppose the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Students meet key individuals who bravely shared their experiences, examine how public attitudes shifted, and learn how ordinary people used consumer boycotts and the ‘power of the purse’ to protest. Includes an accompanying worksheet.

Learning Objectives

• Understand why people began to see the slave trade as wrong
• Learn about individuals who spoke out about their experiences
• Explore how public action and boycotts challenged the trade
• Understand how moral, social and economic pressures built momentum for abolition

Success Criteria
Students can:

• Explain the changing attitudes toward the slave trade
• Describe the contributions of people who spoke out about their experiences
• Give examples of how ordinary people used their purchasing power to protest
• Analyse how public pressure contributed to the abolition movement

Some visuals in this resource were made with AI to help bring ideas to life and support student understanding.