Slavery Flashcards
Did British go into the interior of Africa to enslave Africans?
What did African traders do?
Europeans were not allowed to travel inland to buy slaves. African traders brought the salves to trading posts on the coast.
How did British Merchants acquire slaves?
They had to pay fees or agree an amount with the local chief to buy a certain amount of slaves at a set price.
Who actually enslaved Africans and sold them to Europeans?
African traders and local chiefs.
How where most Africans turned into slaves?
Great number of salves were prisoners taken in war.
Salves were also captured and taken to the coast.
Kidnapped children when the adults were not around.
Who was responsible for African Slavery?
African traders and local chiefs for enslaving them and Europeans (traders+plantation owners) for buying them and causing the bargain.
What was the middle passage?
The middle passage is the name given to the journey from Africa to the americas. Slaves were taken in boats. It would lasted 1-6 months in the 16th century and fewer than six weeks in the 19th century.
What happened in the boat?(7)
- Put under decks
- Beaten if they did not eat.
- Had to exercise nearly everyday.
- Crew watched them closely
- Diseases
- Physical and Emotional Issues
- Many died
What happened once arrived?
Slaves were sold. Merchants and Planters came on board and examined them attentively. Made them jump to see their physical condition.
What diseases or health issues were topically found?
Malnutrition
Dehydration
Emotional Issues (depression etc)
What was the death rate in the boat (Middle Passage)?
What did this depend on?
Death Rate:1/5
Depending on Weather conditions and amount of slaves.
Conditions of slaves on arrival:
Dirty
Skinny
Wounds
Seem depressed/angry
What was the preparation the slaves experienced before being sold?
Fed more and lots of exercise so they don’t look skinny
Wash them
Dye hair if they had white hair to look young. (With shoe polish)
Wounds filled with melted tar (asfalto)
Alcohol to look more lively and happy
Laudanum to calm some.
Skin fixed with oil
Methods for sale (3)
Private treaty (not common): All slaves from a ship bought by ONE person or company.
Auction(subasta)(most common):
Slaves sold in public 1x1
Scramble:
The rest of the slaves left over are sold at a fixed price - all the same price. Run and Grab!
How was warfare in Africa affected by Slavery?
Continuous warfare to get Slaves because war prisoners where then turned into slaves. Purpose of war changes and becomes more common.
How was trade in Africa affected by Slavery?
African trade declined as huge quantities of European good flooded the continent.
As kidnapping became more common, travelling was not safe so traders stopped travelling and producing goods for trading, just for self-consume.
