1-4 Slave Trade

Sec. 1.4 Atlantic Slave Trade Both the English and the French established colonies on Caribbean islands. At first, European Colonist forced Native American Indians to work, but soon most of the Indians fell victim to European diseases.

They looked to Africa to supply the labor force. These colonies were used to grow tobacco and sugar on plantations. These products brought huge profits to France and England, however, they required a large labor force. Eventually, the need for this labor would lead to the enslavement of Africans, and the Atlantic Slave Trade.

Advantages to using African Slaves First, Africans had been exposed to European diseases and would not die like Native American Indians. Second, Africans were very experienced farmers and would be very productive on plantations. Third, Africans did not have any allies in the Americas that would help them escape to freedom.

Soon, Africans were captured and exported to the Americas by the thousands. Between 1500 and 1600, 300,000 Slaves were sent to the Americas. Between 1600 and 1700, 1.5 million Slaves had been sent. By 1870, almost 10 million slaves had gone to the Americas.

Global Exchange Exploration and trade led to worldwide exchange of products, people, and ideas Columbian Exchange- the positive: more jobs, more foods/new foods, faster travel (horses); the negative: diseases

Middle Passage The transfer of slaves from West Africa to the Americas was known as the Middle Passage. This was a very horrible and often deadly experience, as slaves were crammed into the hull of a ship for months at a time. The transfer of slaves from Africa was part of the triangular trade between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

Triangular Trade

The triangular trade was a shipping route between Africa, Europe, and the Americas. Slaves were taken from Africa to America. The money made from the slaves was used to buy goods in America that were then taken to Europe. The goods were then sold in Europe and the ships returned to Africa to buy more slaves.

View Slave Ship

Essay Assignment Write an essay from the point of view of a person taken as a slave from West Africa. Tell about being captured, transported to American life on the ship, and life on a colonial plantation. The essay must have a title The essay should be at least 2 pages in length and no longer than 4 pages in length.

Essay Assignment The essay must include a rough draft hand written and a final copy that can be typed or neatly hand written. The essay must be based on factual information and must be a story that could have likely happened during the Atlantic Slave Trade. If typed, the font must be in times new roman at a 12pt. font size in blue or black ink. The margins must not be larger than 1.25.

Topic You should begin the story as a free native of West Africa. The story should change as you are captured or sold to slave ship owners. The middle portion of the story should be about the horrific journey across the Atlantic Ocean on a Slave Ship, known as the middle passage.

Topic The final portion of the story should be about your arrival in Charleston Harbor and your life working on a plantation. Use all of your 5 senses to describe your enslavement and life story! m