Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Flashcards
How and where didnthe slave trade first begin
The slave trade began with Portuguese (and some Spanish) traders, taking mainly West African (but some Central African) slaves to the American colonies they had conquered in the 15th century.
When did Britain get involved in the slave trade
British sailors became involved in the trade in the 16th century and their involvement increased in the 18th century when the Treaty of Utrecht (1713) gave them the right to sell slaves in the Spanish Empire.
Why was the fact that the slave trade was ignored by the fact it was inhuman and unfair
The slave trade made a great deal of profit for those who sold and exchanged slaves.
How many African were taken to the American as slaves between 1532 and 1832
At least 12 million Africans
triangular trade
West African slaves were exchanged for trade goods such as brandy and guns.
Slaves were then taken via the ‘Middle Passage’ across the Atlantic for sale in the West Indies and North America.
Finally, a cargo of rum and sugar taken from the colonies, was taken back to England to sell.
How many slaves died while traveling via the middle passage
As many as 2 million slaves died during the journey via the Middle Passage.
Middle passage journey
Journeys lasted from as little as six weeks to several months, depending on the weather. The ships were often too small to carry the hundreds of slaves on board. Slaves were tightly packed into cramped spaces with one person’s right leg chained to the left leg of another person. Conditions on the ships were terrible and slaves died from diseases such as smallpox, scurvy and measles.
How many slaves went by Portuguese traders taken slaves from Africa to work in the Portuguese colony of Brazil and the Spanish colonies of South America.
As many as 350,000 Africans were taken in this way as slaves to the Americas.
Who was the first English sea-captain to sell slaves to the Spanish colonies in 1562.
Sir John Hawkins
How did the English colonies expand
In 1625, the British captured Barbados in the West Indies and in 1655 they secured Jamaica.
In 1672, the Royal African Company was set up to do what
trade African slaves to the sugar plantations of the West Indies.
What was part of the Treaty of Utrecht.
the contract, known as the Asiento, to trade 144,000 slaves a year to Spanish South America.
After 1700, the numbers of slaves being transported increased greatly but how many were sent to American
Perhaps 8.5 million Africans were taken as slaves to the Americas.
Most slave ships got their slaves from where
British ‘factors’, who lived full-time in Africa and bought slaves from local tribal chiefs. The chiefs would raid a rival village and sell their captured enemies as slaves.
How much would a slave cost in 1700
a slave cost about £3-worth of traded goods, eg cloth, guns, gunpowder and brandy.
What were the chained lines called
coffles
Middle Passage route
across the Atlantic to the West Indies
How were slave sold in the west Indies
slaves were sold at an auction called a ‘scramble’
The selling price of a slave in the West Indies in 1700 was
£20, so there was a good profit to be had, which made the risks of long journeys and possible harsh weather worthwhile.
When did public opinion on the slave trade turn
At the end of the 18th century, public opinion began to turn against the slave trade.
How was there a resistance of the slave trade
Some African rulers refused to sell slaves to the traders.
Sometimes slaves mutinied on board ships. The most famous case was the Amistad in 1839.
There were many slave rebellions.
In Jamaica, runaway slaves formed ‘Maroon’ communities that fought against the British soldiers.
In Britain, slaves like James Somerset (or Somersett), frequently ran away from their masters.
What did Thomas Clarkson do
Thomas Clarkson went on a speaking tour, showing people chains and irons and a model of a slave ship.
What did Other campaigners do to abolish the slave trade?
Other campaigners published leaflets describing conditions on the Middle Passage and atrocities such as the Zong incident (1781).
What was the Zong incident
The captain of the slave ship Zong threw 133 slaves overboard so he could claim the insurance.
What was the Sons of Africa
British Africans such as Olaudah Equiano formed the ‘Sons of Africa’ and campaigned against the slave trade.
What evidence is there that the slave trade was becoming less profitable
There is some evidence that the slave trade was becoming less profitable – the price of buying slaves in Africa was rising, reaching £25 in 1800, but the price for selling in the Americas had not risen as quickly and was only £35 in 1800.
1772: The Somersett Case
A judge, Lord Mansfield, ruled that slavery was illegal in England
1788: The Dolben Act
The Dolben Act limited the number of slaves a ship could carry
1789-1807: Wilberforce presented a bill for slave trade abolition
Wilberforce made his first speech against slavery in Parliament in 1789. Between 1791 and 1807 he presented a bill for the abolition of the slave trade every year
1806: Bill bans British ships from carrying slaves to French colonies
James Stephen suggested a different bill banning British ships from carrying slaves to French colonies. This stopped two-thirds of the slave trade and made it unviable
1807: Abolition of the slave trade (British Parliament)
The British Parliament abolished the slave trade
1815: The Congress of Vienna abolished the slave trade
The Congress of Vienna, making peace at the end of the Napoleonic Wars, agreed to abolish the slave trade
1833: Abolition of the slave trade (British Empire)
The British Parliament abolished slavery in the British Empire
Who many slaves were taken to Brazil and Spanish South America.
More than 55 per cent of slaves were taken to Brazil and Spanish South America.
How many slaves were estimated to have died on the Middle Passage across the Atlantic
It has been estimated that perhaps a fifth of the slaves died on the Middle Passage across the Atlantic.
What did African slaves take with them
slaves took with them their agricultural knowledge, skilled craftsmanship, religion, traditions, cooking, clothes, music and dance.
Where was the slave ship Brookes based
Liverpool
How many slaves could a slave ship carry
Almost 400
What could temperatures climb to below deck of a slave ship
35 degrees
How long did the journey take
40 - 70 days
From 1510 and 1833 how many slaves were taken across the atlantic
10 million
How many is estimated died on board slave ships
2 million
What did slave trade begin with
It began with spanish and Portuguese taking west African and some central African slaves to colonies in America in the 15th century
When did the english join in and when did there involvement increase
They joined in in the 15th century
Their involvement increased in the 18th century
When was the treaty of Utrecht and what did it mean
It was in 1713
It meant that English had the right to sell slaves in the spanish empire
How many Africans were taken to the Americas between 1532 and 1832
12 million
What were the steps of the triangular trade
West africans were exchanged for good such as brandy and guns
Slaves were taken through the middle passage across the Atlantic for sale in the West Indies and North America
Finally, a cargo of rum and sugar was taken from the colonies and was taken back to England
Who was the first English captain to start selling slaves to the spanish colonies and when did he do it
It was Sir John Hawkings and he started doing it in 1562
What happened in 1625
English captured Barbados
When did english secure Jamaica
1655
When and who were the royal african company
They were in 1672 and they were set up to trade slaves to sugar plantations
What was the Asiento and when was it given
It was a contract that was part of the treaty of Utrecht, it was given to the English traders in 1713 and it said that the English had to trade 144,000 slaves a year to spanish south america
When did the public start to turn against slavery
The 18th century
Give points on how africans caused resistance to slave traders
Some Africans refused to sell slaves to traders
They attacked british ships to rescue the slaves and set them free
The mutinied in board ships the most famous was the Amistad in 1839
Who was Tousainte L’ouverture
He led a successful revolution in French Saint Domingue in 1791
What was the maroon community
They were a group of slaves that ran away that fought british soldiers
Who was James Somersett
He ran away from his master multiple times and when he was caught he contested in court
When was the committee of the abolition of slavery set up and who represented them in parliament
It was set up in 1787 and William Wilberforce represented them in parliament
What did the committee of the abolition of slavery do
They boycotted sugar
Thomas clarkeson showed people chains and a model of a slave ship
They published leaflets describing conditions of the middle passage and the Zong incident
What was the zong incident
It was when a captain of a slave ship called zong threw 13e slaves overboard to claim insurance
When did judge lord mansfield rule that slavery was illegal in England
1772
When did the Dolben act limit the number of slaves a ship could carry
1788
When did Wilberforce make a speech against slavery in parliament
1789
What time period was it when Wilberforce presented a bill for the abolition of the slave trade each year
1791 - 1807
