Wilberforcewill

William Wilberforce was one of a small group motivated to improve their world. 1800 was a good time for this: British rule had just been evicted from America, France had become a military republic after a horrible revolution, and the wealth of the industrial revolution was worried about popular power. So public conscience was becoming sensitive to slavery, poverty and injustice. Also Christianity was strongly held by many to be the only way ahead for righteous society.

Wilberforce always got on well with highly educated and mostly wealthy young men brought up to seek outlets for their abilities. Together they had fun, developed each others talents, and supported social projects. Wilberforce bought a seat in parliament, where his speaking ability, goodwill and independence earned him influence in the house and on the leadership groups. A good friend, a constructive ally, an indefatigable proponent of a cause. Over his lifetime he used all his wealth in service of his missions, the last of it in setting up a preaching church, and caring for the servants of his final home.

The anti-slavery movement was but one of dozens of ventures. This blog seeks to track down what he worked at and why he succeeded, and perhaps tease out a few patterns useful in a networked society.

In July 2009 wikipedia in a well-referenced article lists over 100 causes and issues he espoused and worked on. His commitment was powered by his new-found evangelical christianity, ie based on his own reading of the bible as God's word. His friends included the very able group around the British government at the time, hamstrung by royal interference but empowered by bitter enmity with dynamic French governments and a vision of global peace through trade. Nelson's navy made this peace a realistic hope, it gave security from invasion, for policing the trade routes and later for blocking the Atlantic slave route.

As an independent MP Wilberforce could support the government of the day or critique those bills he was concerned about, and bring his own bills to the house. He was never wantonly destructive of leaders, as our binary system dictates for party members. Unlike prime ministers, he had infinite time and political capital and support for even his most unpopular measures - they were all based on his religious principles, and large groups outside parliament would back him up later if say the wealthy in the Lords blocked a motion.

The slave trade cost him nearly thirty years to even dent, so deep was it as a paying proposition to those in power. Progress by funeral indeed.

The British had just seen three revolutions in their government, the last two being peacable affairs. They had no wish to see their country follow France with her guillotine and terrors. Reform not revolution was in the air. Reform of course is slower than revolution, you need to build goodwill for reform. Goodwill was Wilberforce's strength, he backed word with probity. He was strong in the Lord, and cared about society. Being before Darwin and evolution, he had no doubts about his God.

His mates were sharp, able and backed him strongly. His wife was a treasure, his homes magic places, his children loving and loyal. These stabilities gave him leave and materiel to openly question and repair tears in the fabric of society. Overcoming the mental junctures of his childhood, and the physical disabilities of his twisted adult body, seem to have released extra determination to succeed.

These advantages and more are increasingly available as the internet expands.