The Transatlantic Slave Trade Ch 17: Transatlantic Economy

FYI’s Ch 17 ID quiz  tomorrow Ch 18 Reading Quiz next Monday Unit 4 test (Ch 17/18) Thurs/Fri before Thanksgiving Wednesday… Bring books!

Origins of the Transatlantic Slave Trade  Began in 15th century when Portuguese kidnapped natives from the West Coast of Africa and took them back to Europe  As the demand for labor in colonial possessions in the Americas grew with increasing demand for production, more and more European countries began to implement slave labor

Triangular Trade Trade routes between Europe, Africa, and the Americas Home country carries manufactured goods to overseas areas (guns, textiles, etc.) Africa supplies slaves who are then brought to New World for labor Labor in New World then produces raw materials (sugar, cotton, tobacco, indigo, etc.) Raw materials and crops brought back to home country for manufacturing (sugar, tobacco, cotton coffee, rice) The Triangular Trade

The “Middle Pasage” The passage across the Atlantic Ocean transporting slaves from Africa to the New World Extremely tight conditions for slaves, who were packed together below deck Journey could be anywhere from 5 weeks to 3 months No room to stand and slaves were shackled to ship with little food, little to no exercise and most importantly no light or information on their destination, future, or families Many died from starvation or infectious diseases

Major Exporters and Destinations Major Exporters: Britain, Netherlands, France, Spain, Portugal Major Destinations: West Indies (The Caribbean: Jamaica, Saint-Domingue, Haiti etc), Brazil, Spanish possessions in South America, Florida, British Colonies

European Influence in Africa There were great empires in West Africa Little to no resistance against more powerful Europeans with advanced weaponry Leaders soon made deals with Europeans

Important Slave Market “Factory” Regions -Factory: forts on the African coast for defense and organization of slaving enterprises - Europeans did not go far into the African continent due to harsh topography and native resistance - Thus rely on African chiefs to supply slaves in return for goods - This trade and flow of supplies (including slaves) occurred at these factories Major Slave Factory Regions

Impact on Africa Africans are divided after enslaving each other as prisoners and criminals Human resources exhausted and population in West Africa declines sharply Africans profited from slave trade economically Manufactured goods such as firearms, utensils and tools come into their possession Precious and refined metals circulate through West Africa

Impact on Europe Mercantilism in 16th, 17th, 18th centuries overseas works very well Imperialistic states profit from triangular trade Large amounts of raw material such as sugar, cotton, wheat and corn imported into Europe from New World Capital accumulation helps to finance Industrial Revolution especially in England

Mainland North America Impact on New World Population of West Indies is predominantly of African descent Large number of mulattoes in the region (of partially black descent) Some slave revolts Mainland North America British Caribbean French Caribbean Danish West Indies Spanish Americas Brazil Totals 1501-1600 241,917 34,686 277,506 1601-1700 19,956 405,117 50,356 22,610 313,301 910,361 1,875,631 1701-1800 358,845 2,139,819 1,178,518 81,801 175,438 2,210,931 6,494,619 1801-1866 93,581 218,475 99,549 25,455 860,589 2,376,141 3,873,580 472,381 2,763,411 1,328,422 129,867 1,591,245 5,532,118 12,521,336

Totals by European Country Spain / Uruguay Portugal / Brazil Great Britain Netherlands U.S.A. France Denmark / Baltic 1501-1600 119,962 154,191 1,922 1,365 66 1601-1700 146,270 1,011,192 428,262 219,931 4,151 38,435 27,391 1701-1800 10,654 2,213,003 2,545,297 330,014 189,304 1,139,013 67,334 1801-1866 784,639 2,469,879 283,959 3,026 111,871 203,890 16,316 Totals 1,061,524 5,848,265 3,259,440 554,336 305,326 1,381,404 111,041