<P> The Act had its third reading in the House of Commons on 26 July 1833 , three days before William Wilberforce died . It received the Royal Assent a month later , on 28 August , and came into force the following year , on 1 August 1834 . In practical terms , only slaves below the age of six were freed in the colonies . Former slaves over the age of six were redesignated as `` apprentices '' , and their servitude was abolished in two stages : the first set of apprenticeships came to an end on 1 August 1838 , while the final apprenticeships were scheduled to cease on 1 August 1840 . The Act specifically excluded `` the Territories in the Possession of the East India Company , or to the Island of Ceylon , or to the Island of Saint Helena . '' The exceptions were eliminated in 1843 . </P>
<P> The Act had its third reading in the House of Commons on 26 July 1833 , three days before William Wilberforce died . It received the Royal Assent a month later , on 28 August , and came into force the following year , on 1 August 1834 . In practical terms , only slaves below the age of six were freed in the colonies . Former slaves over the age of six were redesignated as `` apprentices '' , and their servitude was abolished in two stages : the first set of apprenticeships came to an end on 1 August 1838 , while the final apprenticeships were scheduled to cease on 1 August 1840 . The Act specifically excluded `` the Territories in the Possession of the East India Company , or to the Island of Ceylon , or to the Island of Saint Helena . '' The exceptions were eliminated in 1843 . </P>
when was the abolition of slavery in britain
when was the abolition of slavery in britain
1 August 1834
1 August 1834