Thoughts on Slavery and Cheap Sugar

A Letter to the Members and Friends of the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society

James Ewing Ritchie

• Publisher: Science & Technology Publishing
• Year: 2025
• Topic: Social Sciences
• eBook ISBN:
  9782528113226
• Subtopic: Economic Theory
• Index: Social Sciences

Thoughts on Slavery and Cheap Sugar: A Letter to the Members and Friends of the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society is a compelling and thought-provoking treatise written in the mid-19th century, addressing the urgent moral and economic issues surrounding the transatlantic slave trade and the consumption of slave-produced sugar. The author, deeply committed to the abolitionist cause, crafts a passionate appeal to the conscience of British society, particularly targeting members and supporters of the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society. Through a series of well-reasoned arguments and vivid examples, the letter exposes the inhumanity and injustice of slavery, highlighting the suffering endured by enslaved people in the sugar plantations of the West Indies and the Americas. The book delves into the ethical implications of purchasing cheap sugar, urging readers to consider the true cost behind its low price—namely, the exploitation and degradation of fellow human beings. The author challenges the prevailing economic justifications for slavery, dismantling the notion that the prosperity of the British Empire depends on the perpetuation of this cruel institution. Instead, the letter advocates for a principled stand against the consumption of slave-grown products, encouraging individuals to support free-labor alternatives and to use their purchasing power as a tool for social change. Rich in historical context and moral fervor, Thoughts on Slavery and Cheap Sugar also addresses the broader responsibilities of British citizens and the government in the global fight against slavery. The author calls for continued activism, legislative reform, and international cooperation to eradicate the slave trade and promote human rights. This work stands as a powerful testament to the enduring struggle for justice and equality, offering both a searing indictment of slavery and a hopeful vision for a more humane and ethical world.

Table of contents

• THOUGHTS ON SLAVERY AND CHEAP SUGAR,