Atlantic Slave Trade Flashcards
Describe the stages of the Triangular Trade.
The outward passage was the Trade route from Britain to Africa. Commodities such as Gold,guns alcohol,Beads and cloth were taken to be traded with the African Tribes.
The Middle passage was the Trade route from Africa to the Americas. The Main commodities traded here were Enslaved Workers,Gold and Ivory.
The Homeward Passage was the Trade route from The Americas to Britain. The commodities traded here were Rum,Cotton,Sugar,Tobacco,Coffee,Molasses and rice.
What was the Commodities traded at each Stage?
The Outward Passage - Guns,Beads,Shackles,Pottery , Mahogany and Iron goods
The Middle Passage - Enslaved Workers, Gold and Ivory
The Homeward Passage - Rum,Cotton,Sugar,Tobacco Coffee , molasses and rice
Who was Going to do the Laborious work?
Natives of the West Indies Native Americans Europeans Criminals from Europe Bond-Servants
How did these people avoid doing the laborious work?
native Americans, Europeans, bond servants….
Natives of the West Indies - Most Died from poor treatment and illness spread from Europe e.g Smallpox
Native Americans - Avoided capture by running further west
Europeans - Work was too hard for them so they resisted
Criminals from Europe - Brought in from Europe, would be freed once their sentence was up
BondServants - Given free transport from Europe to America and once their 4-7 year contract was up they were free.
So why were the Africans Chosen? Try to give six points
They were used to the heat
Already had some Farming Skills
Slavery already existed in Africa
Less likely to die from diseases
Large number available
African leaders were happy to sell Africans who disobeyed laws
Morally people saw no problems, Church of England owned plantations
Why were the profits from the Triangular trade so high? Try to give six points
Made a profit at each stage
Slaves could be sold at Big Profit
Ships leaving Britain were full of cheaply produced products which all were exchanged for slaves.
Slaves would be tightly packed into ships , little to no regard for their well-being. Up to 700 slaves could fit on one ship. (more slaves = more profit)
From 1783-93 Liverpool merchants transported 305,000 slaves, resulting in huge profit.
On the homeward passage ships would be carrying items in high demand in Britain therefore making a high profit. (Sugar,Tobacco,Cotton)
What was the Economics of the Triangular Trade? Try to give six points
Slave traders needed long term loans
- Proper banking was created for the slave trade
- Lloyd’s banking group was set up at this time
Investments wouldn’t be returned immediately
- Trade route took a year to complete.Profits would only come after that year
Insurance was necessary
- Protecting Investments of wealthy traders
- Ships and cargoes were insured against loss
Other Industries Profited
- Supplying trade ships
- 100,000 guns also came from Birmingham
- Companies in Manchester sold £200,000 worth of product to be sold in the Slave Trade.
How the slave ship was packed
- Slaves could sell for between £20 & £50
- Tight Pack: More slaves but higher chance of them dying
- Loose Pack: Less Slaves but they would be healthier, selling for more
Lucrative Business
- Some voyages made between 20% and 50% profit
Investment was required to become involved
- Ships had to be bought and changed to carry slaves
- Crew,Captain, provisions , food and water were also needed
How did the British Capture the Africans?
Europeans would just kidnap them
They would be ambushed when they worked away from the village or when children were away from adults.
African “Middle-Men”
Sell members of their own tribe for punishment
African Chiefs captured members of rival tribes to trade
Some sold family members to get out of debt
Describe the Capture and March of the Enslaved Africans once they were captured? Try to give six points
Eight hours a day, 20 miles at a time, could go on for months
Connected to other slaves by Iron rings . (fetters)
Extremely hot, little food and water was provided
If people were too sick or old they would be beaten to walk faster
Over 50% died on this journey
Africans would help capture slaves
Didn’t matter what age you were, the younger the better.
Describe the conditions in the slave Factories?
no toilets, just a gutter down the middle of the room
Small holes in roof for ventilation
Very little light
Fed twice a day
Many died from malnutrition, Disease and Brutality. Bodies would be removed to a room and slaves close to dying would be moved into the same room
What was life like in the Slave Factories? Try to give six points
Slaves were brought to Slave Factories by African Chiefs or rulers
Examined by a surgeon for strength, age 35 was maximum age for first class slaves, those who were judged fit were bought by the factories owning company, these slaves were branded on the chest.
The purchased slaves were kept locked up before they were transported across the Atlantic.
Slaves who had poor eyes,teeth, hair, limbs or appeared older were second class slaves.
The were allowed out when the weather was good
They were fed bananas and beans and kept chained underground
Life for Europeans was also hard. Many died from tropical diseases like malaria and yellow fever.
Conditions were uncomfortable and often boring
How did the slave trade effect the African Population?
Impacted the male population of Africa as the men were deemed fit to do the work while the women were not.
This meant that the remaining men and women could not repopulate fast enough
How did the slave trade help in creating conflict in Africa?
To refrain from their own people being taken, some tribes acted as “Middle-men” capturing other tribes people to sell to the merchants. This created conflict that lasted long after the slave trade ended.
How did the slave trade effect the development of Africa?
If African chiefs allowed slave traders onto their land they were rewarded with commodities. This allowed for chiefs such as King Gezo to get wealthy?
How did the slave trade effect the racism in Africa?
The Atlantic Slave Trade promoted the racist ideology of White Supremacy.
