The Transatlantic Slave Trade and Colonial Slavery African-American History

3 Distinct Features of American Slavery: Slaves not accepted into society & had no legal rights Slave status inherent and passed on to children Mostly unskilled, manual laborers

The Transatlantic Slave Trade Portuguese controlled trade in 1500s, Dutch in 1600s, English in 1700s million slaves crossed the Atlantic 3.65 million to S. America 3.32 million to Caribbean 1.5 million to Mexico & Central America 600,000 to N. America Angola & Loango = biggest source overall Slave Coast dominated after 1740 East Africa not tapped until late 1700s More men than women

A Typical Slave Ship Dimensions: 80’ – 90’ by 25’ Held 300 – 450 slaves Voyage lasted 90 – 100 days 10 – 20% average mortality rate Outlawed by U.S. & U.K. in 1808 British abolition movement led by William Wilberforce France 1831; Spain 1835 Last known slave ship crossed Atlantic in 1867 Cuba ended slavery in 1888

The Spanish Empire Viceroys ruled New Spain & Peru on King’s behalf Each divided into provinces Governors & audencias (courts) ruled provinces Haciendas = large plantations growing cash crops (sugar, cotton, cocoa, tobacco, etc.) Mines were principle source of wealth for Spain 16 million kg. entered Spain between Crown kept 1/5 (quinto) Flowed primarily to Spanish Netherlands

Slave Labor in New Spain Encomienda = grant of Indian labor to mine & hacienda owners Repartimiento = requirement that Indians work so many days for Spanish Modeled on feudalism, but no protection for workers When Indians died off, replaced by Africans

Why Africans Were Enslaved Eric Williams argues slavery was based on economics, not racism Indians enslaved first, then white indentured servants used Black slaves cheaper because held for life & less likely to escape Winthrop Jordan argues slavery & racism developed dialectically “black” associated with dirt, death & sin David Brion Davis argues sugar/slave system moved from Mediterranean to Atlantic islands, & thence to Americas