Question

How whale oil affected human freedom

Answer 1

by Robert McNamara
Updated March 09, 2017
The 19th century whaling industry was one of the most prominent businesses in America. Hundreds of ships setting out from ports, mostly in New England, roamed the globe, bringing back whale oil and other products made from whales.

While American ships created a highly organized industry, the hunting of whales had ancient roots. It is believed that men began hunting whales as far back as the Neolithic Period, thousands of years ago

Answer 2

Many ships of these trades had other hidden agendas, like blackbirding and slave trading.

One example of this is captain Thomas James McGrath of the Tasmanian whaler Grecian, In June 1863 he reached 'Ata and invited people on board for trading, when at least half of the population, at least 144 people, was onboard he locked the compartments and the ship departed from the atoll. These people never returned to their homes.