The Slave Trade Ch. 4 Sec. 3

Roots of Slave Trade Exploring the Coast – 1400s: Europeans searched for route around Africa to India – Established trading stations along coast of West Africa American Settlers – American natives used for work: proved unable to handle hard labor – Europeans turned to Africa

Roots of Slave Trade Slavery in Africa – Pre-European slave trade – Prisoners of war, entering slavery in times of famine – Treated as servants, not property Atlantic slave trade – 1700s: approx. 60,000 Africans a year sold into slavery – “middle passage”: dangerous forced travel across Atlantic – Roots of racism – African leaders traded slaves for guns and manufactured goods

Ending the Slave Trade 1700s: growth of abolitionist movement in Europe – Driven by Quakers & free blacks 1807: Britain outlawed slave trade – 1865: post-Civil War US bans slavery Former slave and British abolitionist Olaudah Equiano

Effects of the Slave Trade Increased conflict – Rival tribes sold each other into slavery  created tension & rivalry – Europeans traded guns for slaves Allowed some tribes to dominate others Economic effects – Took young, healthy Africans who were needed to farm – Some empires earned enough money to centralize and grow in strength & size Diaspora – Africans taken to Americas, Europe & Middle East spread culture – Liberia: American colony established for freed slaves