Adam Smith's 1759 Rebuke of the Slave Trade

Abstract

Smith’s two-sentence rebuke of the slave trade was quoted in full four times in early anti-slavery literature. It helps us make sense of Part V of The Theory of Moral Sentiments and understand Smith’s posture toward slavery. Also, it might inform our understanding of the relationship between Smith’s two great works.

Keywords: slavery, slave trade, Adam Smith, Thomas Clarkson, abolitionism, William Wilberforce

JEL Classification: B12; N3