Regulated Slave Trade Act of 1788

Definition

The Regulated Slave Trade Act of 1788 (also known as Dolben's Act) was a British law that aimed at improving conditions on slave ships by limiting the number of enslaved Africans that could be transported relative to a ship's size.

Related terms

William Dolben: An English judge and politician who introduced and championed what became known as Dolben's Act or the Regulated Slave Trade Act of 1788.

Slave Ship Zong Massacre: A notorious incident where over 130 enslaved Africans were thrown overboard from a slave ship due to lack of provisions. This event helped spur calls for regulation like Dolben's Act.

Abolitionism in Britain: A social and political movement in Britain aiming at ending slavery and the slave trade. The passage of laws like Dolben's Act marked key milestones in this movement.