1. What is it?

2. What is it?

3. What is it?

4. What is it?

5. What is it?

6. What is this?

7. What is it?

8. It transported about 200 slaves from the Bight of Biafra to Jamaica.
Photo of archaeologically recovered shackles from the Slave Ship The Henrietta Marie 1700.
It transported about 200 slaves from the Bight of Biafra to Jamaica.

9. The Middle Passage Lesson Objectives
To understand what conditions were like on the middle passage

10. What story could these tell?

11. Today we are going to:
To investigate the transportation of slaves from Africa to America
What was life like for slaves crossing the Middle Passage?

12. The Slave Trade Triangle
Middle Passage

13. What do you predict about the slave’s journey?
Setting the scene:
The journey often took many weeks
The weather could often be horrendous
Many slaves had never before seen the sea
The slaves had been ripped apart from their families.
What do you predict about the slave’s journey?

14. Account by a slave who was taken to work in the West Indies.
I saw many of my miserable countrymen chained together, some with their hands tied behind their backs. We were taken to a place near the coast and I asked the guide why we were here. He told me that I was to learn the ways of the white-faced people. He took a gun, some cloth and some metal in exchange for me. This made me cry bitterly. I was then taken to a ship where I saw my fellow captives moaning and crying.

16. Senses task
1) Hear
2) see
The senses task
4) Touch/feel
3) Smell

17. What was life like for the slaves crossing the Middle Passage?
Pupils watch Amistad clip of the capture, transportation and selling of slaves
Watch the film clip

18. Explain in your books some of the things you saw on the film
What things did you notice about the middle passage from the film Amistad?
Explain in your books some of the things you saw on the film

19. What was the Slaves experience of the Middle Passage?
The Life of
Olaudah Equiano
the African
Primary source
Imagine you experienced his life – think of emotions you would feel

20. Snatched from my village - Tied with chains and rope.
Olaudah Equiano
Snatched from my village - Tied with chains and rope.

21. Olaudah Equiano
Taken to the coast and put onto a ship – 600 slaves packed onto the ship - we are forced below decks.

22. Olaudah Equiano
Chained together hands and feet. Packed in like spoons - no room to move. (Length 5ft 6in/width 16inches)

23. The heat is unbearable - I gasp for breath!
Olaudah Equiano
The heat is unbearable - I gasp for breath!

24. A mixture of unpleasant smells - urine, faeces, and vomit.
Olaudah Equiano
A mixture of unpleasant smells - urine, faeces, and vomit.

25. I hear the shrieks of women and the groans of the dying.
Olaudah Equiano
I hear the shrieks of women and the groans of the dying.

26. Food is served – one bucket between 10 men.
Olaudah Equiano
Food is served – one bucket between 10 men.

27. I refuse to eat. I am flogged as a punishment!
Olaudah Equiano
I refuse to eat. I am flogged as a punishment!

28. A slave rebels – his hands and feet are cut off!
Olaudah Equiano
A slave rebels – his hands and feet are cut off!

29. A slave commits suicide – he jumps over board.
Olaudah Equiano
A slave commits suicide – he jumps over board.

30. The crew rape slave women.
Olaudah Equiano
The crew rape slave women.

31. Disease and death spreads
Olaudah Equiano
Disease and death spreads

32. The sick and dying are thrown alive overboard.
Olaudah Equiano
The sick and dying are thrown alive overboard.

33. Twice a week we are forced to dance on deck – or be whipped!
Olaudah Equiano
Twice a week we are forced to dance on deck – or be whipped!

34. The journey takes two to three months – the crossing is rough!
Olaudah Equiano
The journey takes two to three months – the crossing is rough!

35. I am scrubbed with gun powder, lemon juice and palm oil!
Olaudah Equiano
I am scrubbed with gun powder, lemon juice and palm oil!

36. I am SOLD at auction to Captain Henry Pascal, a British naval officer.
Olaudah Equiano
I am SOLD at auction to Captain Henry Pascal, a British naval officer.

37. Do you think Ouladah Equiano’s story is more or less useful to us than Amistad? Why?

38. Add your own emotions
Terrified
Angry
What sort of emotions do you think he will feel throughout his journey?
Physically sick
Nauseous
Upset
Scared

39. Terrified Physically sick Nauseous Scared Angry Upset
What was life like for the slaves crossing the Middle Passage?
Terrified
Physically sick
Nauseous
Scared
Angry
Upset
Choose your own emotions

40. Activity Copy the statements 1 to 17 in your exercise books.
Draw out the living graph
y axis (6 words from your emotion list)
x axis write the numbers 1 to 17
Plot your emotions against the story.

41. Terrified Physically sick Nauseous Scared Angry Upset
What was life like for the slaves crossing the Middle Passage?
Terrified
Physically sick
Nauseous
Scared
Angry
Upset
Choose your own emotions

42. Plenary Describe the living conditions on board the Slave Ship?
Which facts most shocked you?
If you had to sum up the Middle Passage in 5 words what words would you choose?