Caribbean and Transatlantic slave trade

Transatlantic Slave Trade

slave trade from the 16th to the 19th century which transported enslaved Africans to the Carribbean and Europe

Causes for colonisation of Carribean

• perfect for growing ‘cash crops’; e.g. sugar

• imperialism and social darwinism; british argued they were superior and it was a kindness they would ‘civilise’ them

• missionaries ‘save’ settlers by converting them to Christianity

indentured servitude

A form of labour contract where a person agrees to work for a specific period in exchange for passage to a new country or other benefits

What was the most profitable plantation

Barbados- 1625

sugar

how long was the middle passage form Africa to America

6-8 weeks

Collapse

Caribbean colonies were granted independence after WWII; e.g. Barbados- 1966

Many remained part of Commonwealth; e.g. Jamaica

Impact on enslaved

• 12m people transported over 400 yrs

• subject to torture and dehumanisation due to racist attitudes

• developed resistance to strategies; e.g. Maroons in Jamaica hid and lived in forests

• short life span; 20 yrs

• poor living conditions and poor diets

Impact on Britain

• large profits; £60m(1761-1808)

• cities(London, Liverpool, Glasgow) expanded due to profits; Liverpool Town hall, National Portrait Gallery

• products support industrial revolution- GB ‘workshop of the world’

• Growth of coastal towns; e.g. Glasgow, Bristol

• Campaigns to abolish

Slave TRADE abolished

1807

SLAVERY abolished

1833