French Reaction to the 'Disguised British Slave Trade': France and British African Emigration Projects, 1849-1864

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Periodical article

Title:	French Reaction to the 'Disguised British Slave Trade': France and British African Emigration Projects, 1849-1864
Author:	Jennings, Lawrence C.
Year:	1978
Periodical:	Cahiers d'études africaines
Volume:	18
Issue:	69-70
Pages:	201-213
Language:	English
Geographic terms:	Subsaharan Africa Africa
Subjects:	slave trade colonization history 1840-1849 1850-1859 1860-1869 History and Exploration
External link:	https://doi.org/10.3406/cea.1978.2403
Abstract:	When Great Britain acquiesced to colonial demands and authorized the transporting of free Black emigrants from the West Coast of Africa to the British West Indies in 1840, English abolitionists who disapproved of this project predicted that Britain's decision would cause considerable embarrasment for Her Majesty's government in foreign countries such as France. At first glance it appears that following 1840 French governments and public opinion responded as British abolitionists had foreseen, condemning England's projects on the one hand and encouraging imitation of her actions on the other. Closer examination shows that France's reaction to Britain's African emigration system during the entire two decades of its duration was extremely diverse and complex, and depended invariably upon France's sentiment at any given time toward Great Britain, slavery and the possibility of African emigration to French colonies. Examination of France's reaction sheds light upon the development of French colonial policy in the mid-19th century. Notes.