Atlantic Slave Trade

definition of slave

According to the Oxford Dictionary… A slave is a person who is the legal property of another and is forced to obey them.

How did the Atlantic Slave Trade begin?

The continent of Africa has a rich, diverse history with many powerful kingdoms. Africa had many valuable and useful national resources, e.g. gold, spices Up until the 16th Century Europeans mainly traded with Asian countries. Due to the expansion of the Turkish Empire Europeans lost their quick route to Asia and had to find an alternative. Expeditions of men and ships were sent south to find a new route. During this time the Portuguese “discovered” African trade. Lots of European countries had created Empires across the world. As a result places such as the Americas and Asia were supplying Europe with new goods and produce. Britain had the largest Empire and people living here benefited new products such as coffee, tea, sugar and tobacco.

Why was there a need for slaves?

supply and demand of goods - By 1750 there were over 600 coffee houses in London alone. Tea and chocolate were also in high demand.

Plantations were created in the West Indies, Caribbean and America to grow sugar and other products that were in great demand.Sugar was needed for the popular products to taste good. Plantations were created to grow sugar and slaves were needed to do the back-breaking work.

The definition of The Triangular Trade?

The Triangular Trade is the term used to describe the trade between Africa, the colonies and Europe.

How did Britain get involved in the Triangular Trade?

Initially British slave traders sold slaves to Spanish and Portuguese colonists in the Americas until British settlements in the Caribbean and North America grew. They then began to supply the British colonies instead.

Stage 1 of the Triangular trade : Britain to Africa

Large ports in Britain acted as the beginning and end of the Triangular Trade. Ships would sail from ports such as Bristol, Liverpool and Glasgow, loaded with goods to trade with agents or tribal leaders in Africa. An estimated 5300 voyages left from Liverpool alone. Ships had to have a good crew to ensure an efficient journey, including surgeons, carpenters, sail makers and a captain who could navigate the seas and deal with Africans

Stage 2A of the triangular trade : The capture of slaves

-The time it took for British ships to reach the coast of Africa was dictated by the weather.

-Ships usually left Britain between July and September and arrived in Africa by the end of the following April.

-The average journey took around 11 months

When the ships arrived in Africa they would acquire slaves in one of two ways, what were they?

1.By sailing along the coast of Western Africa and buying slaves from different ports until the ship was full.

2.From agents who lived in African ports who had a network of African dealers who “collected” slaves and took them to the coasts

Why were African tribes willing to sell people to

agents?

It helped to get rid of criminals, sell prisoners captured during tribal wars and sell people who had gone against tribal tradition

e.g. having an affair or for having twins 

How were the captured Africans treated during the journey to the coast? 3 points

1.Slaves were usually chained together and forced to walk up to 8 hours a day, covering 20 miles at a time with little food or water. Many did not make it to the coast.

2.Slaves were made to walk to reach the coast which could last for months.

3.Old and sick slaves would often be killed to keep the pace up and reach the coast quicker.

How were the captured Africans treated at the trading posts (factories)? 4 points

1.They were seared with a burning hot iron (branding iron) either on the chest or bottom so it was known who they belonged to.

2.They were kept in underground cells in specially constructed forts called factories.

3.The cells were crowded and slaves were not fed enough or looked after if sick.

4.Slaves were prevented from escaping as forts were heavily guarded by men with guns.

Treatment at the factories - 4 points

1.Slaves were examined by doctors and were often chained up together at the factories. They could be kept in factories for months.

2.At the factories slaves separated by gender. Any rebellious slaves would be put into punishment cells.

3.Female slaves would be sexually exploited.

4.Slaves would be whipped for anything they did wrong

How were they prepared for sale and what was given in exchange for the slaves?

1.They were rubbed with palm oil to make them look healthy.

2.Muskets, gunpowder, bowls, beads, linen and cotton amongst other items were given as payment.

The Middle Passage definition

The Middle Passage is the term used to describe the sea journey undertaken by slave ships from West Africa to the West Indies.