Slavery Summary Flashcards
What is the definition of a slave?
A slave is a person owned by someone else; a piece of property. A slave is a person owned by someone else; a piece of property.
In which ancient civilizations did slavery occur?
It existed in the great civilisations of ancient Rome, Greece, and Egypt.
What were some reasons people in Africa became slaves before the arrival of white Europeans?
People were made slaves as many were captured during battles between tribes and some were enslaved as a punishment for committing a crime.
When and why did white Europeans become involved in the African slave trade?
White Europeans became involved in the African slave trade from around 1500, it was hugely profitable. They began shipping slaves from Africa to sell abroad for profit. Portugal, Spain, France, and Britain needed workers to act as servants and farm the land on their colonies in the Americas.
Which regions did the trade triangle connect?
The trade triangle existed between Europe, Africa, and the West Indies/Americas.
What goods were loaded in England.
On ships which left London, Bristol, and Liverpool for Africa, loaded with textiles, muskets, brass rods and cutlery, and copper rods. Cargoes also included gunpowder and beer.
How did slavery impact the economy and society in Britain?
It accelerated Britain’s Industrial Revolution.
Where were captured slaves held by African Kings?
The west coast of Africa.
What things depended on slavery?
The rest of Britain depended on slavery. Many people used railways which had been set up with slave trade money, every person in Britain who used sugar benefitted, and sugar was added to bread, porridge, puddings, and the new drinks coffee and tea. The slave trade provided many jobs in Liverpool.
What were the conditions like for slaves on board the ships during the Middle Passage? Name 3
Conditions on board the ship were awful; the deck, where the slaves were kept, was very hot and overcrowded, so much so that some slaves found it difficult to breathe and suffocated. Buckets were placed in the hold for slaves to go to the toilet, creating an awful stench, which made many sick and resulted in many deaths.
How were slaves treated and punished during the middle passage journey?
Many Africans were severely beaten and flogged with a whip. Some were beaten so much that they died and were then thrown overboard.
How much room did each slave have?
Every slave had only five feet and six inches in length and sixteen inches in breadth to lie in.
What was the typical diet for slaves during the Middle Passage? How much water did they get?
The slaves’ meals consist chiefly of horse beans, boiled to a pulp; of boiled yams and rice, and sometimes a small quantity of beef or pork. They sometimes have a sauce of palm oil, mixed with flour, water, and pepper. Each slave was given around 1 pint of water a day.
What time were they brought up about if the weather was good?
About 8am, slaves were generally brought up on deck. If the weather was good they would remain chained on deck until mid-afternoon.
What was the punishment for not eating?
One captain poured molten lead on slaves, while another captain burnt slaves’ lips by placing shovels of hot coals close to their mouths.
What were the different types of slave auctions, and how did they function?
Slaves were also sold as part of a scramble auction. During this type of auction, slaves were kept in a pen and a price per slave was agreed. Buyers were given the chance to rush in and grab the slaves they wanted from among the crowd. Auctions where slaves were bided for and whoever had the highest price got the slave.
What were some of the impacts of slave auctions on families and relationships among slaves?
Often parents were separated from children, and husbands from wives.
What types of crops did slaves work on in the plantations of the Americas? Name 3.
Most of the slaves in the Americas worked on plantations growing tobacco, sugar, or cotton.
How were the working conditions on the plantations, and how long did the field slaves work each day?
The conditions on these plantations were tough. Enslaved Africans worked from dusk till dawn, which was longer in the summer months.
What kinds of tasks were performed by slaves who worked inside the plantation houses? Name 3.
In the house of their master, they served as cooks, servants, maids, and looked after their owners’ children. Some slaves were skilled craftsmen, carpenters, or blacksmiths.
Who were overseers, and what methods did they use to manage and punish slaves in the fields?
Plantation owners hired overseers to manage slaves out in the fields. They often used a whip to punish slaves for being late or not working hard enough.
Describe the living conditions in the slave villages, including the quality of the cabins. Name 3.
They were often made from poor-quality materials and the roofs often leaked. The cabins usually had 1 or 2 rooms and had very little furniture. They lived in overcrowded conditions.
What types of punishments were commonly inflicted on slaves for breaking rules or not working hard enough?
Slaves who broke the rules or didn’t work hard enough could be flogged or chained.
What was it illegal for slaves to do? Name 2
It was illegal for slaves to own property, and it was against the law for slaves to learn how to read and write.
