Barbados and Carolina: The Slave System Comes to the Mainland Becky Cole Cross Creek H.S.

African Slave Trade and S.C. The English began aggressively trading in what was called "black ivory" during the middle of the seventeenth century.

Slaves were bought from the west coast of Africa and taken to islands in the West Indies, such as Barbados.

This was spurred on by the need for laborers in the hot, humid sugar fields on the West Indian island of Barbados.

West Coast of Africa

Barbados

The Caribbean West Indies

Why were slaves brought to Carolina? Englishmen from Barbados were familiar with slavery and the huge profits they could reap from using slave labor. Many of the original English settlers in South Carolina were from the island of Barbados.

Answer…… Englishmen considered slavery an essential part of establishing successful cash crop plantations in South Carolina.

The Role of Barbados Barbados had a very large English population. The plantation system was already in place in Barbados. Englishmen desiring to settle in South Carolina bought African slaves to work their new plantations.

Map of Slave Trade Routes

Slaves were imprisoned on ships on their way to the West Indies. Many died on the ships due to overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, disease, and cruel mistreatment.

The majority of the first slaves brought to South Carolina were brought because of English plantation owners desire to make huge profits from cash crops (such as rice) using slave labor. Most of the slaves initially came to South Carolina by way of Sullivan’s Island, and then on into Charleston.

The Barbados-South Carolina Connection Charleston, SC would become known as one of the most active ports to ship and sell enslaved Africans in 17 th and 18 th century America.