British Empire

Question 1

Why did the Trans-Atlantic slave trade develop?

Answer 1

In order to ship slaves across to the Caribbean to work in plantations that produced valuables goods such as sugar, tobacco and cotton which would be shipped back and sold in Britain

Question 2

What were the reasons for slavery?

Answer 2

Enslaved Africans were cheap, plentiful and did not require a wage. There was a lack of British Labour and they required a wage. There was an increasing demand for sugar.

Question 3

How did the trade triangle work?

Answer 3

Step 1: Traders left Britain to sail to West Africa with ships loaded with goods - such as cloth and weapons - to trade

Step 2: The goods would be traded for enslaved Africans. The ships, loaded with slaves, would cross the Middle Passage (Atlantic)

Step 3: In the Caribbean and Americas, slaves would be traded with plantation owners for goods - such as sugar and cotton - that would be shipped and sold in Britain