Explain the origin and growth of the Atlantic slave trade.
Origin of the Atlantic Slave Trade
Major European Slave Trade Initiation
Began with Portugal's maritime exploration along Africa's West Coast.
By 1444, slaves were being transported from Africa to Madeira Islands for sugar plantation work.
The demand for slaves escalated with European colonial expansion in the New World, which required labor for plantations growing tobacco, sugar, rice, and cotton.
European Colonization and Slavery in West Africa
Colonization of the Canary Islands
In the 15th century, Spain invaded and colonized the Canary Islands under the Kingdom of Castile.
Indigenous Canary Islanders were captured and enslaved, used on islands and across the Mediterranean.
Portuguese Colonization
16th century saw Portuguese settlers convert land for sugar and wine production in the Canary Islands.
Insufficient Portuguese labor led to reliance on enslaved Africans for cultivation.
Elmina Castle, built in 1482 for controlling gold trade, became a crucial slave depot for New World transport.
Motivations for European Expansion
Historian John Thornton noted that immediate profit from trade commodities motivated European navigational advancements.
Portuguese traders expanded down the West Coast of Africa, utilizing the Canary Islands as a naval base for raiding slaves.
Initial Portuguese successes were met with resistance by better-equipped African naval forces.
African Societies and Slavery
Diverse pre-existing forms of slavery existed in Africa, different from racial slavery in the New World.
Some African communities engaged in slave trade for profit, cooperating with European traders.
Slavery in the New World
Spanish Colonization
First Europeans to use enslaved Africans in the New World (Cuba, Hispaniola), due to high indigenous death rates.
First enslaved Africans arrived in Hispaniola in 1501.
Portuguese Influence in Brazil
Increased Portuguese presence in the Americas sparked a demand for African labor for farming and mining.
Slave economies expanded throughout the Caribbean and Southern U.S.
Dutch Involvement
Dutch traders brought the first enslaved Africans to North America in 1619.
Growth of the Atlantic Slave Trade
Rivalry Among European Powers
As Portugal, Spain, France, Great Britain, and The Netherlands grew powerful, they competed for control of the slave trade.
Britain’s naval supremacy allowed it to dominate the trade routes and led to the decline of other nations' efforts.
Royal African Company
Established by the English crown, monopolized African slave routes until 1712.
Peak of the Slave Trade
The trade peaked in the late 18th century, coinciding with increased demand for slaves in the Americas and raiding expeditions into West Africa's interior.
This led to the emergence of West African empires that economically thrived on the trade.
Historiographical Debates
Historians debate the impact of the trade on African economies, assessing the nature of relationships between African kingdoms and European traders.
Some argue it was exploitative, while others claim that it did not overly hinder African development.
Slavery in North America
Cornerstone of the British Empire
Enslavement was integral in colonies, from Southern plantations to Northern wharves.
It shaped colonial thought and culture, creating a racial bond among white colonists who viewed themselves in contrast to enslaved Africans.
Population Context
By the American Revolution, approximately 20% of the 13 colonies' population was of African descent.
Massachusetts legalized slavery in 1641, and Southern economic conditions perpetuated the institution.
Demographics of Slavery
In the revolutionary era, over half of African Americans resided in the Chesapeake, with a high slave population percentage.
The 1790 U.S. census recorded 8% of the black populace as free.
Cultural and Social Impact
African Americans, whether enslaved or free, established familial networks and resistance strategies to navigate their conditions.
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