What caused the British government to allocate £20 million in the first half of the 19th century for payment mainly to private individuals?
ANeed for recruitment, provisioning and arming of troops for multiple wars against the French
BCampaigns lost to Boers in South Africa
CAbolition of slavery
DCompensation due under the Treaty of Ghent with the new United States of America
Correct Option: 3
Explanation:
Abolition of slavery
Britain established a commission after it had finally emancipated its slaves in 1833 in order to compensate the slave owners for loss of their "property", although at the same time it also introduced a system tying the newly freed men and women into another form of unfree labour for fixed terms. The commission operated 1833-1842, during which 46,000 registered to claim compensation. The £20m allocated represented 40% of the Treasury's annual spending budget and, in today's terms, calculated as wage values, equates to around £16.5bn. None of the money was destined for the freed slaves.
