History Unit 1- The Slave Trade

Question 1

Describe the case of the Zong

Answer 1

Showed that the court at that time was greatly in favour of the Slave Trade

166 slaves were tossed overboard so the slave traders could claim insurance

In their eyes the money was worth more than the slaves lives

The legal system turned a blind eye to these events

Question 2

Why did Britain want slaves? Give four reasons

Answer 2

To become a wealthier country

To work on the plantations

To produce goods

For cheap labour

Question 3

Describe Stage 1 of the Triangular Trade

Answer 3

Ships were loaded in Britain with good such as cloth, guns and gun powder

They then sailed to Africa and exchanged the cargo for slaves

Eg/ in 1700 the price of a slave could be as little as £3 however by 1800 the price was more like £25 each

Question 4

Describe stage 2 of the Triangular Trade - The Middle Passage

Answer 4

Took around a month to complete

The ship (loaded with slaves) travelled to the Americas

The captain aimed to arrive in January during the sugar cane harvest as that was when the demand for slaves was highest

Slaves were usually sold at auctions

The traders often lied about the health and the condition of the slaves

Question 5

Describe stage 3 of the Triangular Trade

Answer 5

With the money from the slaves the captain would buy a range of foods which were in high demand in Britain

Eg/ sugar, rum, cotton, tobacco

He would then sail home and sell the goods at a profit

Question 6

What was Africa like before the slave trade? (Positive view)

Answer 6

They had skilled iron workers who made spearheads and farming tools

Africans also made bridles and saddles and died dear and goat skin

There were educated men Eg/ doctors, judges and priests

They had a currency

They had religion- mainly Islam

Question 7

What was Africa like before the slave trade? (Negative view)

Answer 7

People assumed Africans were inferior to white people

Thought they had no skills at all

Europeans viewed them as lazy and idle

Many thought the Africans were frequently at war

Question 8

Why chose Africans?

Answer 8

Strong workers

Could work well in the heat

Higher quantities of people in Africa

Question 9

Did Africa benefit from the Slave Trade?

Answer 9

Some states (Dahomey) grew rich and powerful from the trade

BUT

Families were torn apart

Misery and suffering was created

Poverty

Decline in population and wealth

Encouraged war and violence

Question 10

Describe the home life of plantation slaves

Answer 10

Slaves had to wake at 4am to get ready

Had to be at the fields by 6am

Stayed in their own huts with their families

Question 11

What did plantation slaves eat? And when?

Answer 11

Slaves had to grow their own food

They had 30 minutes for lunch

Question 12

What is slavery?

Answer 12

When people have their personal freedom taken away from them and are forced to work for no pay

They cannot leave or refuse to work

Question 13

Free time for plantation slaves:

Answer 13

Field hands occasional my got Sunday’s off

Families would spend little time together

Days off on New Year, Shrove Tuesday, and the end of Harvest

Question 14

Describe the religion of plantation slaves

Answer 14

They mixed African religions with Christianity

Taught by missionaries from the Caribbean

No black preachers or drums

Question 15

Punishments for slaves on the plantation

Answer 15

They were punished for no reason

Sometimes plantation owners became addicted to punishing their slaves

Many used punishments to defeat boredom

Question 16

Work on the field for a plantation slave

Answer 16

Many slaves would die before their first week was over

Children were also taken to the fields

Hot, tiring and sharp tools with few breaks

Question 17

Work in the Factories for plantation Slaves

Answer 17

Dangerous

Hard laborious work

They were constantly watched

Question 18

Domestic work for plantation slaves

Answer 18

Mainly a woman’s job

Cleaned and cooked

Just as hard as field work

Watched all day

Question 19

Why support the slave trade?

Answer 19

Provides jobs
Increases the wealth of Britain
Provides people with cheap tropical goods
Educated people supported it
Cities prospered and grew
People thought they were civilising Africans

Question 20

Why oppose the Slave trade?

Answer 20

Inhumane

Against Christian beliefs

Gradually became less profitable

Cruel, opposed people’s morals

Question 21

Why did the abolitionist movement succeed

Answer 21

Sugar boycott, damaged the profitability of the trade
Plays and paintings made the slave trade seem profitable
Public events made people aware
Petitions showed people wanted change
Chains and irons illustrated speeches and showed harsh realities
People listened to their religious leaders

Question 22

The impact of the Slave Trade on Britain

Answer 22

Black people came to live in Britain

Liverpool and Britain grew into large wealthy towns

Industry and economy were stimulated

Supplied Britain with sugar, tobacco and rum

Financed British society

Encouraged racism among white people

Question 23

Resistance on plantations.

Why did slaves find it hard to resist against their masters?

Answer 23

Slaves were under constant surveillance from the overseers and their masters.

Punishments for resistance were very serious so slaves were scared to resist their masters.

Many slaves quickly adapted to their new lives and became brainwashed into accepting plantation life.

Many islands were small so the slaves often ended up being re-captured by someone else

Slaves feared being separated from their families

The uprisings often lacked real leadership

Question 24

Resistance on the plantations

How could spaces resist against their owners?

Answer 24

They could run away from their masters. This was resistance as they were taking their lives into their own hands and making their own decisions.

Slaves could also resist by purchasing their freedom. For example Mary Prince who saved up money for years to release herself.

By supporting Sam Sharpe, black preacher, lead the Baptist was in 1832 to help abolish the slave trade.

The maroons were a group of runaway slaves who lives in the jungles on Turks Island, slaves could attempt to live with them

They could support the abolitionist movement, the abolitionist were a group of people who campaigned against slavery. They held meetings and went to court for their cause.

The slaves could also resist by refusing to accept this new name they were given when first brought to the plantations to work