Triangular Trade and the Sugar Revolution

Triangular Trade

• The Sugar Revolution in the West Indies was fueled by the Triangular Trade, a system of trade between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
• The trade involved the export of:
  • Manufactured goods from Europe to Africa
  • Enslaved Africans from Africa to the Americas
  • Sugar, rum, and other tropical products from the Americas to Europe
• The Triangular Trade created a profitable and self-sustaining cycle that fueled the growth of the sugar industry in the West Indies.

Slave Labour

• The Sugar Revolution relied heavily on slave labour, which was used to cultivate and harvest sugarcane.
• Enslaved Africans were forcibly brought to the West Indies and subjected to harsh working conditions, physical punishment, and poor living conditions.
• Slaves were used to clear land, plant, harvest, and process sugarcane, as well as to build and maintain infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and mills.
• The use of slave labour allowed plantation owners to minimize costs and maximize profits, leading to the rapid growth of the sugar industry.

Plantation Economy

• The Sugar Revolution led to the development of a plantation economy in the West Indies, characterized by:
  • Large-scale agricultural production of sugarcane
  • Dependence on slave labour and imported goods
  • Focus on exporting sugar and other tropical products to Europe
• Plantations were typically owned by European colonizers or absentee landlords, who controlled the means of production and reaped the profits.
• The plantation economy led to the growth of port cities and the development of a mercantile economy, with trade and commerce centered on the sugar industry.
• The plantation economy also led to the displacement and marginalization of indigenous populations and the creation of a rigid social hierarchy based on race and class.

Triangular Trade

• The Sugar Revolution was fueled by the Triangular Trade, a system involving the export of:
  • Manufactured goods from Europe to Africa
  • Enslaved Africans from Africa to the Americas
  • Sugar, rum, and other tropical products from the Americas to Europe
• This trade created a profitable and self-sustaining cycle that fueled the growth of the sugar industry in the West Indies.

Slave Labour

• The Sugar Revolution relied heavily on slave labour, which was used to:
  • Cultivate and harvest sugarcane
  • Clear land, plant, harvest, and process sugarcane
  • Build and maintain infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and mills
• Enslaved Africans were forcibly brought to the West Indies and subjected to:
  • Harsh working conditions
  • Physical punishment
  • Poor living conditions
• The use of slave labour allowed plantation owners to minimize costs and maximize profits.

Plantation Economy

• The Sugar Revolution led to the development of a plantation economy, characterized by:
  • Large-scale agricultural production of sugarcane
  • Dependence on slave labour and imported goods
  • Focus on exporting sugar and other tropical products to Europe
• Plantations were typically owned by:
  • European colonizers
  • Absentee landlords
• These owners controlled the means of production and reaped the profits.
• The plantation economy led to:
  • Growth of port cities
  • Development of a mercantile economy
  • Displacement and marginalization of indigenous populations
  • Creation of a rigid social hierarchy based on race and class.