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The act received royal assent on 28 August 1833 and came into force on 1 August 1834. It was the culmination of years of efforts by abolitionists and reformers to end the institution of slavery. The act declared that all slaves in the British colonies would be emancipated but also established a period of transition, known as apprenticeship, during which enslaved people would continue to work for their former owners for a set number of years. This apprenticeship period was marked by numerous debates and conflicts, and ultimately proved to be inadequate and inhumane. The Slavery Abolition Act 1833 had far-reaching consequences for the British Empire and the institution of slavery. It led to the emancipation of over 800,000 enslaved people in the Caribbean, South Africa, and other British colonies. The act also established a precedent for other nations to follow in the abolition of slavery, and spurred further calls for emancipation across the Atlantic world. Despite its significance, the act was not without its limitations and flaws. It did not address the issue of compensation for former slave owners, which led to significant financial burdens for the British government. Furthermore, the act did not extend to territories controlled by the East India Company, where slavery persisted for several more decades. Nevertheless, the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 remains a landmark piece of legislation that played a vital role in the eventual abolition of slavery within the British Empire.