Slavery Revision
Flashcards for Slavery in the Americas
Flashcard 1: Why Did Slavery Begin in the Americas?
Q: Why did slavery begin in the Americas?
A:
Economic need for cheap labor for plantations and mining.
Indigenous populations were decimated by disease, creating a labor shortage.
Europeans turned to Africa to supply enslaved people.
Flashcard 2: Countries Involved in the Slave Trade
Q: Which countries were involved in the slave trade from the 17th century onwards?
A:
Portugal: Early leaders, especially in Brazil.
Britain: Dominated in the 18th century, especially in the Caribbean and the American South.
Spain: Focused on Caribbean and South America.
France: Involved in the Caribbean (Haiti) and other parts of the Americas.
Netherlands: Involved in the Caribbean and Suriname.
Denmark: Participated in the Caribbean slave trade.
United States: Involved in internal slave trade after 1808.
Flashcard 3: How Did the Slave Trade Operate?
Q: How did the slave trade operate in the Americas (Transatlantic Slave Trade)?
A:
Triangular Trade:
Europe to Africa: Manufactured goods traded for slaves.
Africa to the Americas (Middle Passage): Enslaved Africans were transported to the Americas.
Americas to Europe: Raw materials (sugar, tobacco, cotton) produced by slave labor were sent to Europe.
Flashcard 4: Conditions on the Slave Ships
Q: What were the conditions like on the slave ships?
A:
Tight Packing: More slaves packed onto ships, leading to higher death rates from disease and overcrowding.
Loose Packing: Fewer slaves on ships to reduce death rates, but less profit.
Unsanitary & Brutal: Slaves were shackled, had limited food and water, and many died from disease or harsh conditions.
Flashcard 5: What Did Africans Experience Upon Arrival in North America?
Q: What did Africans experience when they arrived in North America?
A:
Separation from Families: Many were sold at auction and given new names.
Disorientation & Trauma: Stripped of their culture and language.
Dehumanization: They were considered property, not people.
Flashcard 6: What Was Life Like for African Slaves on Plantations?
Q: What was life like for African slaves on plantations?
A:
In the Fields:
Worked long hours in harsh conditions (10-16 hours/day).
Physical punishment (whipping) for disobedience.
Suffered from exhaustion and injury.
In the House:
Some worked as servants (cooks, cleaners, caretakers).
Subjected to constant surveillance and control.
Female slaves often faced sexual abuse.
Flashcard 7: How Were Slaves Controlled?
Q: What methods were used to control slaves?
A:
Slave Codes: Laws to limit slaves' rights (e.g., no education, restricted movement).
Fugitive Slave Act (1850): Required the return of escaped slaves, even from free states.
Physical & Psychological Control: Whipping, branding, and threats of violence, plus manipulation through fear and religious control.
Flashcard 8: How Were Slaves Freed?
Q: What methods were used to free slaves?
A:
Underground Railroad: A secret network helping slaves escape to free states or Canada.
Abolitionist Movement: Groups and individuals who campaigned to end slavery (e.g., Frederick Douglass, Harriet Beecher Stowe).
Emancipation Proclamation (1863): Freed slaves in Confederate states.
Civil War (1861–1865): Ended slavery with the 13th Amendment (1865).