Why were the British involved in the slave trade?

The video discusses the economic motivations behind the slave trade, highlighting how commodities like sugar, tobacco, and cotton were produced by slaves and regarded as essentials. It emphasizes the role of greed in perpetuating the trade and includes a speech advocating for its abolition, which took over 40 years to achieve within the British Empire.

What does the speaker imply about the perception of the goods produced by slaves?

How long did it take the speaker to bring an end to slavery within the British Empire?