On 22 February 1807, the House of Commons passed a motion by 283 votes to 16 to abolish the Atlantic slave trade. Hence, the slave trade was abolished, but not the still-economically viable institution of slavery itself, which provided Britain's most lucrative import at the time, sugar. Abolitionists did not move against sugar and slavery itself until after the sugar industry went into terminal decline after 1823.
ON 22 febRuarY 1807, the House of cOmmoNs passed A motIon By 283 VOTes to 16 To aBolIsH tHE AtLaNtic slave tRaDe. hEnCE, tHe SlAve trade was aBolished, buT nOT ThE still-economiCalLY ViAble instItutiON of sLaVERy ItSelf, whIch pROvidEd britain'S moSt lucrAtiVe ImPort at the time, SugAr. abolitIonIsts Did not moVe AgAinst SUgar and sLavery itself uNTil aftER thE sUGar iNduSTry went inTo termInaL dEcLine AfTer 1823.