Slavery Flashcards
What is slavery?
Being forced to work without pay or appreciation. Slaves had no rights and were treated as objects, not people.
What was the trade of slaves from Africa to the Americas known as?
The Trans-Atlantic slave trade
What does ‘the Americas’ mean?
The continents of North America and South America
What was the Middle Passage?
The journey from the west coast of Africa to the Americas
What percentage of slaves died on the way from their homes to the west coast of Africa?
50% - approximately 10 million
What did the Europeans use to buy slaves from Africa?
Iron, cloth, brandy (alcohol), firearms (guns) and gunpowder
What were slaves traded for once they reached the Americas?
Sugar, tobacco or money
What did many slaves think was going to happen to them?
Some slaves believed the Europeans were going to eat them
Who captured many of the slaves?
African chiefs who were given desirable items, such as guns, from the Europeans
Approximately how many slaves would there be on a slave ship?
300 - 400
Approximately how many slaves died on the journey across the Atlantic Ocean?
10-20% of the slaves on the ship
How long was the voyage across the Atlantic Ocean?
Approximately 6 weeks
How did some slaves try to resist (stop) what has happening to them?
Jump off the ship or starve themselves
What happened to slaves who died or became sick on the ship?
They were thrown off the ship
Name 3 countries that African slaves were sent to
Brazil, Cuba and the United States
When did the first slaves arrive in the United States?
Circa (approximately) 1619
Why were slaves brought into the United States?
To work on the tobacco, sugar cane and cotton plantations
Approximately how many slaves were brought into the United States between 1619 and 1865?
3 million
Where did most slaves end up when they arrived in the United States?
They worked on plantations in the southern states
Approximately how many slave owners were there in the south?
380 000, out of a population of about 8 million
What is an agrarian economy?
Based on farming and agriculture
Approximately how much of the world’s supply of cotton came from the US?
80%
Why didn’t many slaves work in the northern United States?
The economy in the north was based on industry and paid labour
Why did some people think that slavery kept all Whites equal?
The slaves did menial (boring/dull) jobs, which kept Whites in a class above
