Triangular Trade and the Sugar Revolution

Study Notes

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.