Feb 4

Universal male suffrage was granted by 1914, as Western Europe, the United States, and Argentina enlarged their voting publics. The end of slavery was sought by abolitionists,  unity and independence from foreign rule was hopefully fostered by nationalists, and male dominance was challenged by feminists. From roughly 1780 to 1890 slavery lost its legitimacy and was largely ended. For economic progress, slavery was not essential. England and New England were based on free labor, and they were among the most prosperous regions of the Western world during the early nineteenth century. 'In the new era of industrial technology and capitalism," (Strayer, 799) slavery was unnecessary. The British public came to believe that slavery was morally wrong, economically inefficient, and politically unwise. Governments felt a growing pressure to close down the trade in slaves and ban slavery itself.