Slavery Flashcards
Describe a slaves experience during the middle passage
A slaves experience during the middle passage was traumatising. They were chained together. They were usually tight packed which meant that there was no room to move about and resulted in diseases spreading quickly. The food provided was not plentiful and was nothing but maize and porridge. Slaves were whipped as punishments and they could also be thrown overboard as an example of how not to behave.
They had nothing but a bucket for a toilet which would often fall over on the boat resulting in a stench in the hold.
Describe a slaves experience in factories
A slaves experience in factories was traumatic. Factories were basically large prisons that separated males and females. Rape was common for females. There was hard punishments given to misbehaving African Americans. Factories were overcrowded and unsanitary. Ship Doctors would often come and inspect the slaves in factories before purchase, but they would inspect them as if they were animals- checking their feet, their teeth etc.
Describe a slaves experience of being sold in the West Indies
A slave could be sold in the west Indies in two ways- a scramble, or at auction. At auction, a slave would be inspected. They could be raped. Tar was used to cover slaves scars. If a slave had dysentery, a rope would be pushed up here anus. They would also be covered in goose fat and shaven to make them appear younger and healthier. African males and females were also separated. In scrambles, people would simply pay to run in and grab a slave which was very scare for the africans.
What were the effects of slavery on the West Indies
There was thousands of slaves which could result in rebellions
There was lots of plantations that boosted the economy by making sugar, cotton, rice, tobacco and rum.
What were the affects of slavery on Africa?
There was a drain of young people which meant that traditions and population decreased
There was a loss of farming which resulted in starvation
There was a loss of culture and skills
There was also a civil war
What was the affect of the slave trade of Britain
It produced many jobs in Bristol, Glasgow (making tobacco), Livingston ( making cotton), and London)
Lots of insurance in Banking because each ship had to be insured and could make around 4 million per trip
British Trade expanded - linen, guns, pots and pans, rum
What are examples of some things slaves did passively to rebel?
Breaking tools working slowly being dumb sleeping in or running late eating or stealing the produce
What are problems that slaves faced after rebelling
Not all slaves spoke the same language
They didn’t know where they were
You were black in a white world
if caught you would be punished
What did William Wilberforce do?
He was an MP he presented a bill for 18 years in parliament to abolish the slave trade.
What did Granville Sharp do to contribute towards the abolition of the slave trade?
He was a lawyer who helped to free slaves by having the law on his side
Who was Thomas Clarkson and what did he do?
Thomas Clarkson was an abolitionist who gathered evidence and talked to people about their experience of slavery and spread how bad people were treated
What did John Newton do?
He wrote Amazing grace
he was the captain of a slave ship what ended up becoming a minister and wrote his experiences of being a slave ship captain and what he witnessed etc
Why did the slave trade end.
The 1807 act of abolition was finally passed in parliament. It made it illegal to buy or sell slaves and ships were also unable to carry slaves. Anyone caught doing so had to pay a fine. Abolitionists finally gained support from publicity campaigns. Religious groups and churches also realised that what was happening was unholy. The War with France also ended so many felt that Britain no longer needed the money from the Slave Trade. It took 29 years of campaigning to eventually abolish the trade.
