# Slavery Abolition Act (1833)

URL: https://english-history.com/timeline/1833-slavery-abolition-act
Categories: main-event

Parliament legislated to end slavery across most of the British Empire, with a system of apprenticeship and compensation to slave owners. Within the broader Georgian Britain period, parliamentary government, industrialization, imperial expansion, war with France and political reform turned Britain into a global commercial and military power. This event is placed at 1833 in the chronology so it can be read alongside the political, military, social and cultural changes around it. The act transformed imperial labour relations while leaving formerly enslaved people without compensation.

## Why it matters
The act transformed imperial labour relations while leaving formerly enslaved people without compensation.

Ruler at the time: [William IV](https://english-history.com/rulers/william-iv)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia topic lookup — Slavery Abolition Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=Slavery+Abolition+Act&go=Go)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Slavery Abolition Act](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Slavery+Abolition+Act)
- [Wikipedia — Timeline of British history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_British_history_%281800%E2%80%931899%29)
- [The National Archives — empire and industry resources](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/)