The Middle Passage 1

The Middle Passage 2 Slaves were tribes-people, who would be caught either by Europeans or other tribes-people, who would be paid by the Europeans, often with guns. When caught, they would be kept caged in what were called barracoons until they got on the ship. Life on the ship was terrible. Men were chained very closely next to each other. Many were sea sick and didn’t know what was happening. Sometimes slaves were allowed to go on the deck of the ship, but had sea water thrown on them. The salt burnt their wounds. They were forced to dance also. There was lots of disease and death on the ship. Disease was spread though the bad conditions. Dead bodies were thrown over-board When slaves got onto land, they would be cleaned up before going to a slave auction to be sold to work on the plantations (farms).

8 extra facts about the Middle Passage 3 Countries that took part in the Middle Passage included Portugal, England, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Brazil, the Caribbean, North America, and the Americas. Between 1440 and 1640 the Portuguese controlled most of the African slave trade. During the 1700s the British slave traders were responsible for transporting approximately 2.5 million of the 6 million African slaves out of Africa. A typical slave trader's ship could carry about 30 crew members and several hundred slaves. It is estimated that approximately 12 million African slaves were forced to come to the Americas, and were sold into slavery there against their will. Conditions on the ships transporting the African slaves were horrible. It was hard to breathe because they were packed in so tight. They were often chained to each other to avoid problems of rebellion. When ships were faced with a water shortage it was common for the crew to chain the slaves together and throw them overboard. The crew of the ship the Zong chained 132 together and threw them overboard - and the French ship La Rodeur drowned 39 slaves in 1812. Drowning was covered by the ship owner's insurance but death because of sickness (which would occur without water) was not covered. Drowning the slaves meant there would be no loss of money. Common diseases that killed the African slaves included scurvy, and dysentery. Common diseases that plagued the African slaves included the measles, syphilis, and smallpox. In the 1700s the cost to purchase an African slave was approximately $800 to $1200. Today this would be about $32,000 to $48,000 each.

4 Sights Feelings Sounds Things that happened Smells Dark below deck Blinding light when brought up on deck – had to blink to adjust eyesight Bodies chucked overboard Woman being taken by the ship’s crew People being whipped Sights Alone Confused – what is happening? Angry at cruel treatment Feelings Sounds Creaking of the ship Ship’s crew singing Crashing of the waves Crying Screaming Praying Moaning People talking in different languages The deafening clanking of chains Things that happened Held in barracoons on the beach before being loaded onto small boats Held in a giant canoe house “My stomach came up into my mouth and spilled” Made to dance for exercise Smells Dead and the dying Sweat Human excrement Urine