what impact did the slave trade have on britian? Flashcards
why was the slave trade so important to britain?
People made a lot of money. British traders made £60 million.
Slave-grown goods were in DEMAND. Sugar and cotton were must-have items for British people.
Sugar was a CASH CROP. Shipped to Britain to be turned into a product to be sold for profit.
Slaves were not paid. This kept costs down.
Slave-grown sugar was cheap. British people used it in cakes and puddings. Sweetened drinks.
British people liked cotton. It was a cheap, light-weight fabric that was easy to dye, sew and wash.
British government benefited because businesses paid taxes. Spent on the Royal Navy and defending the Empire.
how important was the slave trade to british economy?
90% of British ships left from either London, Bristol or Liverpool.
London specialised in banking and insurance. Gave credit to ship owners and insured their ships.
African and Caribbean traders seemed to trust Bristol traders most.
Shipbuilding grew in Liverpool - built 40% of slave carrying ships.
To keep costs down, Liverpool crews hired young boys and inexperienced men.
Liverpool had a very large, deep dock. Ships could load and unload quickly, reducing costs. Sold slaves £4 or £5 cheaper than Bristol merchants.
Fine buildings, paid for by slave traders, were built in the city centres such as Liverpool City Hall and the Merchant City area of Glasgow.
what jobs were created in and around slaving ports?
Ship builders and carpenters, rope and sail makers. Urgent need for dock workers to load and unload the ships. Office workers dealt with contracts, accounts and hiring, for example.
Crew, surgeons and captains.
Blacksmiths sold chains, manacles and shackles to fit out ships.
Jobs were available making trade goods to sell in Africa - for example gunmakers in Birmingham.
Jobs were available in Bristol sugar-refineries, cotton factories in the north of England and tobacco factories in and around Glasgow.
what businesses did money from the slave trade support?
Many people used their slave trade to invest in banking.
Money from the slave trade supported James Watt whilst inventing the steam engine
Liverpool traders leant or invested money to develop cotton spinning in Lancashire.
Money was spent building canals.
100,000 guns manufactured in Birmingham were sold to slave traders.
Slave traders bought land. They improved it by putting in drains, introducing new farming techniques and investing in mechanical tools
