Amazing Grace Essay

Amazing Grace Essay

      Amazing Grace is a Christian song written by John Newton.   Newton was a

former Captain of a slave ship who became a monk to atone for his sins.   He wrote

Amazing Grace after becoming a Christian.   The movie, Amazing Grace, explains the

background of the song, which most Americans today are probably unaware of, and

serves as the song that motivated and encouraged William Wilberforce to seek an end to

slavery.   Although Wilberforce is just 21 years old when he first enters political office, he

learns very quickly how to work in the political arena.   Several years after entering office,

Wilberforce and William Pitt introduced a bill before the English Parliament that would

ban slavery in England.   Although the bill was defeated, Wilberforce understood that this

was just the beginning the struggle against slavery.   The driving forces behind

Wilberforce was his strong belief in God and a desire to abolish slavery.   The movie is

about the personal and political struggles Wilberforce faced as he took on the English

establishment.   In the end, Wilberforce’s determination and perseverance persuades those

in power to end the inhumane slave trade in England.

In England, William Wilberforce, who was born into wealth and privilege, is a

member of Parliament and a Christian.   Wilberforce was driven by his conscience and

inspired by John Newton to seek an end to slavery.   Newton is also a close friend and

mentor to Wilberforce.   At one point, Wilberforce was torn between abandoning politics

and serving God.   Although his conscience was telling him that serving God in the

ministry was very important, Wilberforce also wanted to serve the people in Parliament.

At the time, Wilberforce’s dilemma was to choose between the two.   His good friend,

William Pitt (who later becomes Prime Minister of England) believes he can do both and

with the help of anti-slavery activists, they encourage...