The Atlantic Slave Trade (Info Package) PDF

The ‘Atlantic Slave Trade’ (Info Package) Main Idea: ​Between the 1500s and the 1800s millions of Africans ​were captured, shipped​ across the Atlantic Ocean, and sold as ​slaves​ in the Americas. Origins of the Slave Trade Slavery has existed ​all over​ the world since beginning of recorded...

The ‘Atlantic Slave Trade’ (Info Package) Main Idea: ​Between the 1500s and the 1800s millions of Africans ​were captured, shipped​ across the Atlantic Ocean, and sold as ​slaves​ in the Americas. Origins of the Slave Trade Slavery has existed ​all over​ the world since beginning of recorded history. Only in the last 150 years approximately has slavery been considered ​immoral​ and is now almost non-existent. Slaves could be anyone: farmers, merchants, priests, soldiers, artists; fathers and mothers, sons and daughters. Beginnings Shortage of labor in Americas led to beginning of Atlantic slave trade European planters needed workers on sugar, coffee, tobacco ​plantations Most early slaves were taken after their tribe or group was defeated in war by a competing group. African Slaves 15-20 Million​ were forcibly sent to the Americas Most from the coast of ​West Africa Others ​kidnapped ​on raids by traders Most were exchanged for European technologies or products not available in Africa. Where: Slave Trade Destinations 1 The Trade Network Captured Africans became part of a network called ​The​ ​Triangular Trade: First leg of triangle - ships carried European goods to Africa to be exchanged for slaves. Second leg - ​Middle Passage - ​Africans were brought aboard ships to the Americas to be sold. Third leg - American products were carried back to Europe - then the cycle would begin again. Some slave traders from the Americas sailed directly to Africa, not following the triangular route. Triangular Trade - Goods On Route to Africa: On Route to the On Route to Europe Caribbean Guns & Cotton Gunpowder Enslaved Tobacco Alcohol Africans Cocoa Cowrie shells Food and water Rum Glass beads African cloth Caribbean Iron rods/bars Gold delicacies Copper and Ivory Sugar bronze mandibles 2 How: the ‘Middle Passage’ The ‘Middle Passage’ was a terrifying, horrific experience Captive Africans were chained together and forced into dark, cramped quarters below ship’s decks. Could neither sit, stand, or use the washroom. The journey lasted three to six weeks. Ten to twenty percent did not survive. Middle Passage - ‘Stacking’ 3 S​lavery in the Colonies Jobs Most slaves worked on plantations o Approximately 6,000,000 on Sugar plantations o Approximately 2,000,000 on Coffee plantation o Approximately 500,000 in the Cotton fields o Approximately 250,000 in the Cocoa fields Others worked in mines (approximately 2,000,000), in towns or in the countryside Skilled craft workers—carpenters, metalworkers, coopers—continued crafts in Americas Women given domestic duties (approximately 1,000,000) Living Conditions Slaves had to meet own basic needs at end of workday Cooking, mending, tending the sick fitted in around work for ​slaveholder Living conditions harsh Physical, degrading ​punishment​ inflicted for minor offenses ‘Property’ Laws in Americas considered enslaved Africans to be ​property Slaves had no ​rights or freedoms Slaveholders controlled most conditions under which they lived Sometimes the enslaved endured ​brutal treatment​ and abuse Effects of the Slave Trade 300 years of the Atlantic slave trade Devastated West African societies Effect: Human Cost o Estimates of 15 to 20 million Africans shipped to Americas against their will o Millions more sent to Europe, Asia, Middle East o Human cost enormous Countless died in transit Millions deprived of freedom and rights Descendants doomed to lives of forced servitude Effect on Africa: o Effects were significant and ​long lasting​. o Slave raiders captured strongest young—future leaders of societies o Divided​ Africans one from another—some rulers waged wars to gain captives o Forced labor of millions of Africans did not ​enrich Africa 4