The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade

What were Chartered Companies and what was their purpose?

Chartered Companies were trade organizations with wealthy financiers that had government charters to trade

Who was the first English slave trader?

John Hawkins

How did Africans experience forced labour in the transatlantic slave trade?

They were transported and often worked to death on sugar plantations.

How did Queen Elizabeth initially react to the slave trade?

She was initially against it but was swayed by profits and lent a royal ship to Hawkins.

What motivated many British people to invest in the slave trade?

The potential for high profit without paying for labour.

Why was profit in the slave trade almost guaranteed?

enslaved people were unpaid labour and the demand was high.

How many enslaved Africans died during transport in the Middle Passage?

est. 2 million.

What happened to enslaved Africans upon boarding the ship?

They were stripped of clothing and possessions

How did slavery exist before the transatlantic slave trade?

Arabs and Africans practiced slavery involving prisoners of war

Why was Cabo Verde strategically important?

It was Africa’s most western point linking Africa

How did the Portuguese use Cabo Verde?

They settled it

Why was the Caribbean considered a ‘super power’ during Portuguese exploration?

Its sugar industry required huge amounts of labour after the native population was wiped out.

What does Professor Antonio Correia mean by Cabo Verde being a ‘melting pot’?

Africans and Europeans interacted and formed a new culture known as the Atlantic World.

When did the Portuguese begin transporting enslaved Africans from Cabo Verde?

Around 1510.

What statistic did Elly Colly present?

For every 1 enslaved African taken to the Americas

Why was this statistic significant for Africa’s development?

It removed the strongest and youngest people

How were enslaved Africans categorised at the House of Slaves?

Young women

How were enslaved Africans treated by captors?

They endured brutal physical abuse

What other resources were exploited alongside the slave trade?

Gold

What did European attitudes toward Africans reveal?

They were viewed as second-class citizens or not human at all.

What happened to enslaved Africans after being purchased before boarding ships?

They were taken to fairs lasting weeks where they were sold.

Why is it difficult to know exactly how enslaved Africans were procured?

They often travelled long distances before being sold.

What was the author’s purpose in describing slave procurement?

To shift blame onto African traders and manipulate perspectives.

When did Britain abolish the slave trade?

25 March 1807.

What were some reasons for the abolition of the slave trade in Britain?

Moral and religious concerns

What was the slogan used by abolitionists?

"Am I not a man and a brother."

What was "The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano"?

A firsthand account from a former enslaved African exposing the horrors of slavery.

What were iron muzzles used for?

To punish and control enslaved Africans.

What is altruism?

Helping others without expecting anything in return.