Slave Trade

Question 1

Why did the slave trade develop?

Answer 1

The reason for this maritime movement was to obtain labour as the indigenous population of the New World had declined rapidly because of its lack of immunity against imported pathogens.

Question 2

What was stage 1 of the Slave Trade?

Answer 2

The ships start in Britain, full of cloth, metal and weapons and sails to west Africa.

Question 3

What’s stage 2 of the slave trade?

Answer 3

The ship arrives in Africa and they trade items from the ships for slaves from African tribes. Ships get filled with slaves. They then sail across the Atlantic to the Caribbean (middle passage).

Question 4

What made the Trade Triangle so profitable for the slave traders?

Answer 4

• They were selling things that were in high demand in each place
• Slavery meant that workers did not need to be paid- higher profits
• the ships were never empty- no time wasted and maximised profits

Question 5

What happened in stage 3 of the Trade Triangle?

Answer 5

The ship gets to the Caribbean and trade the slaves for rare goods: tobacco, cotton etc and sail back to Britain with the items. When the ship returns to England, the process restarts.

Question 6

Name 4 conditions the slaves suffered in the slave trade:

Answer 6

• children were separated from families
• slaves were regularly threatened
• food deprivation
• harsh punishments such as daily beatings