Manchester antislavery, 1792–1807

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis article examines the actions of Mancunians who either supported or opposed abolitionism between the years 1792 and 1807. A central part of this article is an exploration of the individual signatories (and associated addresses and businesses) who attached their names to the Manchester pro- and antislavery petitions of 1806. This is achieved by using historical geographic information systems (GIS) to understand and plot patterns of opposing ideologies throughout the city in order to present the idea that the ideology expanded beyond social clubs, parlours, and published materials. The notion that two opposing sides of the slavery debate often occupied the same space is investigated. Such an approach will offer a hitherto overlooked aspect of slavery and abolition in Manchester.