Triangular Trade & The Middle Passage
Slave Trade Slavery existed in Africa BEFORE Europeans arrived POW, indentured servants, etc. Europeans/Americans make slavery racist Atlantic Slave Trade (AST) begins in 1400s as a need for labor in the Americas Natives died from diseases introduced during the Columbian Exchange https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NXC4Q_4JVg
Triangular Trade A system where slaves, crops, & manufactured goods were traded between Africa, the Caribbean, and the American colonies ** Not all ships made the complete triangular voyage!
Stage 1: England Africa Manufactured goods (cloth, tobacco, cowrie shells) brought & exchanged for African slaves
Stage 2 (Middle Passage): Africa Americas Transport of slaves Disease, overcrowding About 8 million slaves died
Middle Passage 4 ft2 of space on a ship Laid naked side by side Men occasionally forced to dance above deck for exercise Disease kills many
Stage 3: Americas Europe Cotton, sugar, tobacco Ships cleaned beforehand to ward of disease
Who Said It: Captain, Doctor, Sailor, Slave, or Abolitionist “The treatment of the seamen was cruel from the very beginning to the end of the voyage. Ropes and handspikes were in common use; and were often kicked and beaten with the fist for only imaginary faults…there was not one [voyage] in which a seaman was well used.” Sailor
Who Said It: Captain, Doctor, Sailor, Slave, or Abolitionist “This wretched situation was again aggravated by the galling of the chains, now become insupportable; and the filth of the necessary tubs, into which the children often fell, and were almost suffocated. The shrieks of the women, and the groans of the dying, rendered the whole a scene of horror almost inconceivable.” Former Slave
Who Said It: Captain, Doctor, Sailor, Slave, or Abolitionist “[Slaves] had sufficient room, sufficient air, and sufficient provisions. When upon deck, they made merry and amused themselves with dancing. As to mortality… it was trifling. In short, the voyage from Africa to the West Indies was one of the happiest periods of a Negro’s life.” Ship Captain
Who Said It: Captain, Doctor, Sailor, Slave, or Abolitionist “The captain of an English ship had enticed several of the natives on board, and finding a favourable opportunity, sailed away with them. His vessel however was driven back to the coast from whence it had set sail, and was obliged to cast anchor on the very spot where this act of treachery had been committed. At this time two other English vessels were lying in the same river. The natives, ever since the transaction, were determined to retaliate…they accordingly boarded the three vessels, and having made themselves masters of them, they killed most of their crews." Abolitionist