Slave Trade

Question 1

The triangular trade

Answer 1

The outward passage- ships from Europe carrying manufactured goods such as guns and cloths to west Africa. There the slave traders would trade cargoes for slaves.
The middle passage- transportation of captured Africans across the Atlantic to be sold as slaves. The slaves were sold to plantation owners at auctions.
The inward passage- once the slaves were sold the money raised was use to buy things in high demand in Europe such as tobacco and cotton.

Question 2

How British ports benefitted from slavery?

Answer 2

• Insurance and banking companies made big profits
• Liverpool and Bristol grew to become centres of trade and commerce
• Many important buildings were built using slave trade money e.g art galleries, libraries
• Many people gained jobs such as unloading and loading ships which allowed people to make money

Question 3

The middle passage

Answer 3

shackled together between 6 and 8 weeks while sailing from Africa to the Caribbean.

Tight pack- slaves made to lie on their side so as many as 600 could fit on the ship

Loose pack- Slaves made to lie on their backs

• No sanitation, so vomit and sick lay on the floor
• Slaves threw overboard as a punishment if sick or disobeyed rules
• Exercised on ships briefly to ensure they weren’t stiff
• Temperature was extremely hot

Question 4

Auctions for slaves

Answer 4

• Slaves wounds were sealed with tar and their skin was rubbed with oil
• Slaves were chained and kept in cells while waiting to be sold
• Slaves examined by buyers; looked at their body hair and teeth
• The auctioneer advertises the slaves before selling them to make buyers pay more
• Once slaves bought they were given new names, often English
• The slaves suffered mental and physical effects, some slaves sad and homesick

Question 5

The case of the zong

Answer 5

The zong was a slave ship owned by a wealthy Liverpool merchant named William gregson and captained by Luke collingwood. The crew worried there would not be enough drinking water so collingwood came up with a plan- on the 29th November and 1st December 132 sick slaves were thrown overboard to their deaths. Surviving 200 slaves were sold. Once back in Liverpool the insurers discovered there was still 420 gallons of water on board

Question 6

Abolitionists

Answer 6

John Newton- newton had worked aboard many slave ships
•once he gave up working on slave ships he still invested in and made money from the slave trade
•in 1788 he published a pamphlet “thoughts upon the slave trade” and described the horrific conditions. He then gave a copy to every MP

William Wilberforce- generally regarded as the key figure of the abolition movement
•was a member of parliament and used his position to introduce bills to end the slave trade
•he was friends with William Pitt, who was prime minister

Question 7

Why was slave trade abolished in 1807?

Answer 7

Economic factors- •sugar could be produced cheaper else where.
•paid workers would be more profitable

Religious factors- • bible says all men are created equal
• religious groups such as the quakers began to oppose the slave trade

The work of abolitionists- • William wilberforce (Mp) introduced many bills into parliament debating the trade