The Slave Trade By sofia_b 1502 First African slaves arrive in the Americas 1641 Large scale trading starts 1750 New laws introduced to make better conditions on ships - concern for crew 1787 Society for Effecting the Abolition of the African Slave Trade founded by Thomas Clarkson 1789 Odaulah Equiano's autobiography is published 1800 Slave deaths on ships has decreased from 1 in 5 to 1 in 18 since 1750 1808 The abolition of the Slave Trade by law takes effect 1820 Slave trading becomes punishable by the death penalty 1861 Civil war begins 1865 Civil war ends and slavery is abolished