The significance of British control of the triangular trade
Highly profitable trade boosted British wealth
generated huge profits as enslaved people were bought cheaply in Africa and sold at a much higher price in the Americas
profits from slave voyages after 1660 added major wealth to London
→ this strengthened Britain’s economy and allowed them to expand trade and empire
Helped Britain dominate the Atlantic slave trade
by 1713, Britain controlled ½ of the entire transatlantic slave trade
ports like Liverpool and Bristol became the main centres of trade
→ control of this trade gave Britain major economic power over rival European states
Royal African Company was key to British dominance
founded in 1672, had its own army, military bases and trading posts in West Africa
maintained control over slave trave trading across the West African coast
→ British success was backed by state-supported commercial power, not just private merchants
Colonial expansion increased demand for enslaved labour
after 1660, colonies like Montserrat and Antigua had labour shortages
indentured servants were no longer enough so enslaved labour became more important
1640 = no slaves in english colonies - by 1700, there were 120k enslaved people in British colonies
→ growing empire directly increased Britain’s dependence on + profits from the trade
Weakened the Dutch competition
early 17th century, the Dutch controlled most West African trading posts
English success in the 1st Anglo-Dutch war helped Britain challenge this
the English company founded in 1663 aimed to take Dutch trading posts
→ British control of the triangular trade was significant as it marked Britain overtaking a major commercial rival
Strengthened Crown influence and state finances
wealth fom trade strengthened the economy and the Crown’s power
profits contributed to institutions like the Royal Mint
→ trade success increased state financial strength, helping Britain act more powerfully at home and abroad
Glorious Revolution expanded British merchant access
before 1688, the Royal African Company held a monopoly
after the Glorious Revolution, this monopoly was broken, allowing all English merchants to trade in African goods and enslaved people
→ wider access increased British participation and accelerated expansion
Strong elite support made the trade sustainable
the Royal African Company had major support in London from:
15 Lord Mayors and 25 sherrifs
→ this suggests triangular trade was deeply tied to the political and economic elite, helping protect and expand it