1807-1808: Great Britain and the United States officially outlawed the transatlantic slave trade, signaling a major transformation in global moral and politi…

1807-1808: Great Britain and the United States officially outlawed the transatlantic slave trade, signaling a major transformation in global moral and political perception. This revolutionary move was spearheaded by a small group of abolitionist reformers who successfully challenged the “magic of the free market” and the profitability of slavery. Despite these laws, the slave economies of Brazil and Cuba continued to show great vitality and growth for several decades. The abolitionist campaign was followed by expensive and militant naval interventions aimed at suppressing the now-illegal traffic.