Colonial Africa and Slavery Study Guide

Enslaved Africans were subjected to inhumane treatment during the Middle Passage, enduring harsh conditions, violence, disease, and malnourishment. 15% perished in transit.

African explorers, both free and enslaved, journeyed with European colonizers, possessing knowledge and skills vital for exploration.

Slave traders targeted specific regions in Africa, primarily Angola and Senegambia, for their captive labor.

The Amistad Case, involving a slave revolt and a legal battle for freedom, highlighted the complexities of slavery and its resistance.

Enslaved Africans faced brutality and dehumanization in slave auctions, where they were displayed as commodities, their skills and perceived flaws evaluated.

Women endured unique challenges in slavery due to their perceived value as laborers and childbearers, subjecting them to constant violence and exploitation.

Slave ship diagrams exposed the inhumane conditions of the Middle Passage, depicting cramped quarters, lack of sanitation, and cruel treatment of captives.

Africans on slave ships resisted their enslavement through individual acts of defiance, collective revolts, and cultural traditions.

Laws created to maintain slavery and control enslaved people. They prohibited enslaved people from owning property, gathering in groups, learning to read and write, or even testifying in court.

Legal principle which declared that a child's legal status followed the status of the mother. This meant that a child born to an enslaved mother would automatically be enslaved, regardless of the father's status.

The Dred Scott Supreme Court case ruled that African Americans were not and could never be citizens of the United States. This meant they had no rights under the Constitution and could not sue in federal court.

The creation of racial classifications and taxonomies, often based on physical features, that were used to justify and perpetuate racial divisions and inequalities.

Enslaved people used music, storytelling, and crafts like quilting to express their creativity, communicate resistance messages, and preserve their cultural heritage.

Musical genres like gospel, blues, and jazz originated from African American communities and blended African and European musical traditions.

Debates arose about the right of enslaved people to choose their own names, as slaveholders often assigned names to their enslaved people.

African Americans began using terms such as Afro-American, African American, and Black to identify themselves and reclaim their heritage.

Cotton's dominance as a cash crop in the US significantly propelled the domestic slave trade. Increased cotton production, profits, and reliance on the crop fueled the demand for enslaved labor.

The forced relocation of Native Americans, notably the Trail of Tears, and the birth of enslaved children contributed to the growth of the enslaved population in the US.

The Southern economy thrived on cash crops like tobacco, rice, indigo, and cotton. This reliance on agriculture led to a societal structure heavily dependent on enslaved labor.

Northern colonies, with unsuitable climates for cash crops, developed an economy based on trade, fishing, shipbuilding, and industry. However, they profited from slavery through the slave trade and the textile industry.

The Middle Colonies developed an economy based on trade and staple crops, but their involvement in the slave trade and the use of slave labor in some sectors contributed to the overall system of slavery in the US.

The domestic slave trade, a horrific practice, involved the forced separation of families and the transportation of enslaved people within the US. This trade caused immense suffering and lasting harm.

Slave auction broadsides, public advertisements, openly commodified enslaved Africans. This practice illustrated the dehumanizing nature of slavery and the profit-driven nature of the slave trade.

Enslaved people were forced into diverse roles including skilled labor, domestic work (cooking, cleaning), and field labor. The wealth generated from their labor fueled the plantation economy, creating a lasting gap in wealth and opportunities for their descendants.

These events involved displaying enslaved people, often shackled, as goods to be bought and sold.

Prices varied greatly depending on factors such as age, sex, skills, and perceived health.

Auctions often took place in ports, squares, or warehouses.

Slave auctions aimed to dehumanize enslaved people, reducing them to mere commodities for profit.

The forced separation of families was one of the most devastating consequences of both the slave trade and individual auctions.

The auction process often contributed to the trauma and psychological harm experienced by enslaved people.

Legal frameworks and societal norms supported and enforced slavery and slave trading systems.

Laws and regulations concerning ownership and sale of enslaved individuals were crucial, though often designed to benefit slave owners.