The Transatlantic Slave Trade and Its Historical Impact

Ladinos

Free and enslaved Africans accompanying Europeans in America.

Atlantic Creoles

Africans familiar with Iberian culture, facilitating trade.

Social Mobility

Ability to navigate social hierarchies for advancement.

Chattel Slavery

Systematic ownership of individuals as property.

Conquistadores

Africans seeking freedom through military service.

Juan Garrido

First known African conquistador in North America.

Estevanico

Enslaved African explorer and translator in Texas.

Transatlantic Slave Trade

Forcible transport of over 12.5 million Africans.

Charleston, South Carolina

Primary entry point for enslaved Africans in U.S.

Top Slave-Trading Nations

Portugal, Great Britain, France, Spain, Netherlands.

Senegambia

Region contributing significantly to enslaved population.

Middle Passage

Brutal sea journey lasting up to three months.

Cultural Diversity

Variety of ethnic backgrounds shaping African American culture.

Wolof

One of the prominent African ethnic groups.

Akan

Ethnic group contributing to African American heritage.

Igbo

Cultural group influencing African American traditions.

Yoruba

Significant African ethnic group in American culture.

Three-Part Journey

Capture, Middle Passage, final passage to servitude.

Cultural Contributions

Diverse practices shaped by African ethnic backgrounds.

Economic Implications

Enslaved labor fueled plantation economies in Americas.

Domestic Wars

Increased violence among African kingdoms due to trade.

Firearms

Weapons exacerbating conflicts in African societies.

Cultural Practices

Unique traditions developed from African ethnic interactions.

Legacy of Regions

Influence on African American identity and culture.

Commodification of People

Turning African individuals into tradeable commodities.

Quarantine and Resale

Processes faced by enslaved Africans upon arrival.

Trauma and Dislocation

Psychological effects from the slave trade experiences.

Firearms from European traders

Increased warfare frequency and lethality in Africa.

Coastal states' wealth

Gained riches from the slave trade activities.

Long-term instability

Loss of kin disrupted African community structures.

Economic focus on slavery

Hindered development of other African industries.

Slave narratives

Firsthand accounts highlighting the humanity of Black individuals.

Phillis Wheatley

First African American poet, challenged racial inferiority.

La Amistad revolt

1839 uprising leading to a pivotal Supreme Court case.

Resistance methods

Included hunger strikes and collective revolts aboard ships.

Slave ship diagrams

Illustrated commodification and poor conditions of captives.

Symbolism of slave ships

Represented collective struggle of diverse African communities.

Sengbe Pieh (Joseph Cinque)

Led Amistad revolt, symbolizing the fight for freedom.

Nature of slave auctions

Brutal sales separating families for highest bids.

Emotional trauma from auctions

Lasting impacts on communities from brutal sales.

Contributions of African American authors

Used narratives to advocate for abolition and equality.

Cotton industry impact

Increased demand for enslaved labor in the South.

Second Middle Passage

Forced relocation of over one million African Americans.

Economic implications of slavery

Wealth of South grew while enslaved remained impoverished.

Transatlantic slave trade ban

Banned in 1808, leading to domestic slave trade growth.

Resistance during Middle Passage

Acts of defiance increased costs for enslavers.

Abolitionist movement

Grew due to resistance and public awareness efforts.

Cultural disruption

Enslavement affected traditions and family structures.

Linguistic barriers in resistance

Overcome to organize revolts among enslaved Africans.

Public sympathy for abolition

Generated by cases like La Amistad's revolt.

Visual representation of commodification

Abolitionist diagrams mobilized public opinion against slavery.

Historical trauma processing

Black artists repurposed imagery to honor ancestors.