N5 History SLAVE TRADE and SCOTTISH WWI

The Triangular Trade

The organisation and nature of the trade in enslaved Africans, its effects on British ports, its effects on African societies, for example Ashanti, and plantations in the Caribbean.

Slave factories

Locations on the African coast where enslaved Africans were collected and prepared for transport.

Middle Passage

The journey where enslaved Africans were transported from Africa to the Americas to work on the plantations, usually taking 8 - 12 weeks.

Plantation crops

Crops, especially sugar, that were cultivated on plantations in the Caribbean and were significant to the British economy.

Impact of Caribbean trade on British economy

The influence of the Caribbean trade on sectors such as banking, ship-building, and textiles in Britain.

Living and working conditions

The harsh realities faced by enslaved Africans on plantations, including violent treatment.

Abolitionist Campaigns

Movements aimed at ending the trade in enslaved Africans, which gained support both outside and within Parliament.

Arguments of the abolitionist

Reasons presented by abolitionists against the trade in enslaved Africans.

Methods of the abolitionists

Strategies used by abolitionists to promote the end of the slave trade.

Enslaved Africans' attempts to gain their freedom

Efforts made by enslaved individuals to escape or resist their enslavement.

Fear of enslaved Africans' attempts to gain their freedom

The anxiety felt by slave owners regarding potential revolts or escapes by enslaved individuals.

Origins of the abolitionist movement

The beginnings of the movement aimed at ending the slave trade.

Arguments for the trade in enslaved Africans

Justifications provided by proponents of the slave trade.

Debate over reasons for the eventual success of the abolition campaign

Discussions regarding what led to the successful end of the slave trade.

Auctions of enslaved Africans

Events where enslaved individuals were sold to plantation owners after arriving in the Caribbean.

Goods brought back from the Caribbean

Items such as sugar, coffee, and rum that Europeans returned to Europe with after the trade.

Violent treatment of enslaved Africans

The brutal and inhumane treatment that enslaved individuals often endured on plantations.

Impact of the trade on British ports

The effects that the trade in enslaved Africans had on port cities in Britain.

Negative impact of the trade on Caribbean islands

The detrimental effects that the trade in enslaved Africans had on the development of Caribbean societies.

Forced labour by British Merchants

The use of enslaved Africans as a source of labor for British merchants in the Americas.

Capture of enslaved Africans

The methods used to forcibly take individuals from Africa into slavery.

Trade items exchanged for enslaved Africans

Goods such as pots, pans, guns, gunpowder, horses, and cloth that were traded with African tribesmen.

Arawaks

The natives of the Caribbean who were used as enslaved labour initially but soon died out due to lack of immunity to European diseases.

Bond servants

Young men and women who signed contracts to work on sugar plantations for four to seven years in exchange for free passage to the Caribbean.

Convicted Criminals

Individuals sent to the colonies to work on sugar plantations as punishment instead of going to jail, many of whom died from harsh conditions.

West Africans

People who were eventually used for plantation work due to their ability to survive in the Caribbean heat and their experience with manual labour.

Rival Tribes

Tribes that kidnapped members of other tribes and sold them for European goods such as pots, guns, and cotton.

Conditions in slave factories

Very poor, with enslaved Africans often held for months and suffering from common diseases.

Branding of enslaved Africans

The practice of marking enslaved Africans on their chest with the name or sign of the company upon arrival.

Inspection of enslaved Africans

Surgeons would inspect enslaved Africans for strength and age, with 35 being the maximum age for a first-class slave.

Second class enslaved Africans

Individuals who had poor eyes, teeth, hair, limbs, or appeared older than the acceptable age for first-class slaves.

Impact on African societies

Increased violence and hatred between communities as tribes participated in capturing enslaved Africans for European goods.

Famine in Africa

Caused by the removal of healthy Africans who could produce food, as most strong individuals were taken as enslaved Africans.

Transport networks

Improved roads and other networks to the coast constructed by traders to facilitate the movement of enslaved Africans.

Food improvement

Resulted from the presence of foreigners capturing enslaved Africans, leading to changes in local food production.

European goods

Items such as pots, pans, guns, and cotton that were traded for enslaved Africans.

Heat exhaustion

A condition many convicted criminals suffered from due to hard labour in the punishing heat of the colonies.

Sun stroke

A serious condition that affected many workers, particularly those who were forced to labor in extreme heat.

Triangular trade

The trade system involving the exchange of enslaved Africans, goods, and resources between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

Raids by coastal tribes

Attacks conducted by tribes to capture Africans, often involving setting fire to huts to facilitate escape and capture.

Debt slavery

The practice of selling individuals into slavery to pay off debts.

Prisoners of tribal war

Individuals captured during tribal conflicts who were sold into slavery.

Improvement in food

Occurred due to foreigners coming to capture enslaved Africans, who also brought new resources such as kettles and pots and pans.

Captured prisoners

Sold to the trade in enslaved African people by tribal leaders as they made money from it.

Africa's population decrease

Population was 25 million; without the trade, it would have been 50 million.

Poorer health

Many Europeans brought illnesses and diseases that affected Africa.

Families torn apart

Families were separated by kidnappers.

Petty crimes punishment

Punished by enslavement, affecting justice in society.

Financial benefits for leaders

Some African leaders benefited financially from the trade.

The Middle Passage

The second leg of the Trade Triangle, usually taking 8-12 weeks to complete.

Loading of enslaved Africans

Enslaved Africans were loaded onto boats from 'slave factories' in shackles.

Tight pack vs. loose pack

Tight pack allows more enslaved Africans to be loaded, while loose pack tends to have more survivors.

Conditions below deck

Enslaved Africans were kept below deck in horrible cramped conditions.

Dietary issues

Enslaved Africans were fed food they were not used to, upsetting their stomachs.

Health issues during journey

Enslaved Africans often lay in their own bodily fluids as they became ill.

Disease outbreaks

Many enslaved Africans died from dropsy and dysentery outbreaks.

Injuries from shackles

Enslaved Africans ended up with blisters and open wounds from shackles.

Dead bodies disposal

Dead enslaved Africans were thrown overboard.

Fresh air and exercise

Enslaved Africans were taken up on deck for fresh air and exercise, made to dance under threat of whipping.

Sexual abuse

Female enslaved Africans were often sexually abused.

Rebellions on ships

Rebellions sometimes broke out when enslaved Africans managed to overpower the crew.

Scrubbing of enslaved Africans

Enslaved Africans were scrubbed harshly, often removing a layer of skin.

Hiding injuries

Scars and wounds were scrubbed and filled with hot tar to hide them.

Appearance for auctions

Enslaved Africans had oil put on their skin to look healthier for auction.

Auction process

Enslaved Africans were displayed for plantation owners to inspect and sold to the highest bidder.

Scramble auction

Enslaved Africans not sold were placed in a scramble for plantation owners to grab.

Leftover enslaved Africans

Those left over at the end were usually left to die or bought by doctors for profit.

Family separation at auctions

Many families faced being split up as different plantation owners could buy members of the same family.

Importance of sugar cane

In the 17th century, sugar cane was brought to the Caribbean from Brazil, leading to a shift from cotton and tobacco due to competition.

Sugar production

Sugar cane was the main crop produced on Caribbean plantations, providing 80-90% of the sugar consumed in Western Europe.

Sugar plantations

Almost every island was covered with sugar plantations and mills for refining the cane for its sweet properties.

Labour source

Until the abolition of the trade, the main source of labour was African enslaved people.

Sugar consumption in Britain (1700)

In 1700, Britain's sugar consumption was 4 pounds (weight) per person.

Sugar consumption in Britain (1800)

A century later, that had risen to 18 pounds per person.

Standard of living

The increased availability and popularity of sugar was due to a gradual increase in the standard of living.

Luxury crops

The discovery of more New World colonies which were ideally suited to the growing of luxury crops such as sugar.

Other crops in the Caribbean

Although sugar was the most important crop in the Caribbean, other crops such as coffee, tobacco and cotton were also grown.

Sugar as a commodity

By 1750, sugar surpassed grain as the most valuable commodity in European trade - it made up a fifth of all European imports.

Sir James Stirling of Keir

Came from Perth. His family owned plantations in Jamaica.

Richard Oswald

A Scottish merchant who set up one of the most active trading posts in Africa. He owned ships too.

Thomas Leyland

Liverpool's richest man who expanded his business to sell enslaved Africans and argued against abolishing the trade.

Benefits of the trade

The benefits that Britain gained from being part of the trade in enslaved African people can be summed up in six ways: Finance, Goods, Employment, Population, Military, Cities and people.

Finance

Money is the most obvious benefit from the trade. The British sold enslaved Africans as well as the products they grew.

Industrial revolution

The industrial revolution was the transition to new manufacturing methods and the trade in enslaved African people provoked this in Britain.

London Banks

Made lots of money from loaning trading companies the money to embark on the Trade Triangle.

Goods from the trade

Being part of the trade in enslaved African people gave Britons access to the goods that enslaved Africans made.

Employment from the trade

Trade in enslaved Africans created jobs in Britain, directly employing people in the finance sector and industries like shipbuilding.

Bristol's economic growth

Bristol experienced major economic growth as a result of the trade in enslaved African people.

Population growth in Britain

Britain's population changed and grew thanks to the availability of jobs from the trade in enslaved African people.

Liverpool's population increase

Liverpool was a small fishing port of 5000 people, 100 years later over 78,000 people lived and worked in Liverpool.

Military improvements

Britain's military was stronger due to the trading in enslaved African people, leading to improvements in military vessel designs.

Development of cities

Cities and people across Britain also became rich thanks to the trade in enslaved African people.

Tobacco Lords

Merchants in Glasgow who profited from the trade related to enslaved Africans.

Lloyds of London

An insurance company that insured many voyages to trade in enslaved Africans.

Barclays Bank

A bank that financed voyages to enslave Africans.

Textile industry profits

Increased profits in the textile industry due to orders from the trade in enslaved Africans.

Sugar industry development

The establishment of sugar houses and refineries in places like Bristol, providing many jobs.

Chain-making and rope production

Industries boosted by the trade in enslaved Africans.

Manufactured goods demand

The need for goods like glass beads and copper led to a growth of factories producing these items.

International sugar prices

Fluctuations in sugar prices significantly impacted the Caribbean islands' economies.