The Slave Trade US History McIntyre
The Atlantic Slave Trade When? 1450 - Spanish & Portuguese start slaving in Africa 1865 - still smuggling slaves until the end of the civil war (technically illegal in 1808)
The Atlantic Slave Trade Why? (3 reasons combined) Labor shortage (not enough workers) Ethnocentrism –(feelings of superiority) Greed
The Atlantic Slave Trade Where from? Where to? 5% 60% 65% 30% 35% 5%
Number of people enslaved 30 million taken from their homes 10 million die during capture phase 10 million die during middle passage 10 million survive to make it over the ocean
Phases of the Slave Trade Capture: Most captured 50-100 miles inland Tribes often did not have a choice in helping capture neighbors “divide and conquer”
Phases of the Slave Trade West African expectations about slavery: Slaves were not slaves for life A slave’s child would not be a slave
Phases of the Slave Trade Capture: Cape Coast Castle, Gold Coast, 1727 Christiansborg Castle, Gold Coast, ca. 1750
Phases of the Slave Trade 2. The Middle Passage Journey over the Atlantic Ocean 400-500 people in a boat with little air & much disease
Phases of the Slave Trade 2. The Middle Passage - Tight Pack Higher mortality, higher profits
Phases of the Slave Trade 2. The Middle Passage - Loose pack Lower mortality, lower profits
Phases of the Slave Trade 3. “Seasoning” - Brutal work camps, 4-5 months in Caribbean Meant to train people to be slaves
(Don’t write down – just think!) Thinking Question: (Don’t write down – just think!) Given how many people died during the “Capture phase” or on the “Middle passage,” what do you think went on in the minds of the slave catchers and slave traders?
Triangle Trade North America Molasses Rum, weapons The Carribean Africa Slaves
Growth of Slavery Why Africans? Americas are desperate for labor Harder for Africans to run away than Native Americans African strengths - agricultural practices, resistance to diseases
Growth of Slavery How did African slaves fight back? Open revolt (rare) Work slowdowns Breaking Tools Poisoning food
(Don’t write down – just think!) Thinking Question: (Don’t write down – just think!) While many slaves resisted, not all of them did. What did they have to lose?
Growth of Slavery How much did it grow? 1800 - 1 million in slavery 1860 - 4 million (1/3 of Southern population)
Growth of Slavery Why? Cotton Gin Invented 1793 - made slavery VERY productive 100x faster than by hand More efficient = more $ (so need more slaves)