1. The Atlantic Slave Trade 1770-1897
Introduction

2. Aim: Identify the meaning of the term ‘slavery; Success Criteria:
You can write a definition of slavery in your own words.
You can identify three sources of evidence which we can use to find out about slavery.

3. What Is A Slave?
A slave is a human being who is owned by another human being.
A slave can be bought and sold, or traded, just like an animal can be bought and sold.
A slave has no rights – the slave’s owner can beat and starve him.
Even if a slave has children they do not belong to her, they belong to the owner who can sell them.

4. By the end of the
1770s (18th century),
many ship carried
black Slaves from Africa
to the Americas.
The Americas are North America, South America and
the Caribbean Islands. The Black people who live in
countries such as the USA, Brazil and West Indies are
descended from the slaves who came from Africa.

5. The slave trade was
carried out with a great
deal of cruelty. Many
people in Britain
wanted to stop
(abolish) the slave
trade.
The people who wanted to abolish the slave trade
were called Abolitionists. Abolitionists called the slave
trade ‘This Accursed Trade’ accursed is an old word
for evil.

6. In This Topic You Will Be Studying
How the slave trade begin and how it was organised.
The experience of slaves who were taken from Africa.
The effects of the slave trade on Africa, West Indies and Britain.
The Abolitionist movement and why the slave trade was finally abolished.

7. Finding the Evidence
In this course we are looking at events that happened well over 200 years ago – How do we know what happened?
In history we look for evidence or ‘sources’ which can tell us about past events.
A source of information that comes from the period we are studying is called a primary source. A primary source was written or made at the time.
A source that was written later, such as a history book, is a secondary source.

8. Copies of speeches by Abolitionists Ship’s logs (diaries)
Letters from slave owners
Photographs
Diaries of Ships’ Doctors
Advertisements for Slaves
Books written
by ex-slaves
Information from websites
Modern films or programmes
Drawings
Captain’s diaries