Transatlantic Slave Trade: Vocabulary

Coerce

To compel someone to do something by using force or threats

Exploit

To take unfair advantage of someone, often for personal gain

Middle Passage

The sea journey undertaken by slave ships from West Africa to the West Indies

Act

A written ordinance of Congress, or any authority, decree, or law

Manuscript

A document written by hand or typewritten, rather than mechanically printed

Commodity

An economic good or service that can be bought or sold

Mitigated

To make less severe, serious, or painful

Natural Population Growth

The increase in population size resulting from more births than deaths

Immoral

Not conforming to accepted standards of morality

Succumbed

To fail to resist pressure, temptation, or some other negative force

Fratricidal Conflict

Conflict or violence among people who are usually considered to be members of the same family or group

Diaspora

The dispersion of any people from their original homeland