1. US 8th grade Social Studies
The Slave Trade
US 8th grade
Social Studies

2. The Atlantic Slave Trade
When?
Spanish & Portuguese start slaving in Africa
still smuggling slaves until the end of the civil war (technically illegal in 1808)

3. The Atlantic Slave Trade
Why? (3 reasons combined)
Labor shortage (not enough workers)
Ethnocentrism –(feelings of superiority)
Greed

4. The Atlantic Slave Trade
Where from?
Where to? 5%
60%
65%
30%
35% 5%

5. Number of people enslaved
30 million taken from their homes
10 million die during capture phase
10 million die during middle passage
10 million survive to make it over the ocean

6. Phases of the Slave Trade
Capture:
Most captured miles inland
Tribes often did not have a choice in helping capture neighbors “divide and conquer”

7. Phases of the Slave Trade
West African expectations about slavery:
Slaves were not slaves for life
A slave’s child would not be a slave

8. Phases of the Slave Trade
Capture:
Cape Coast Castle, Gold Coast, 1727
Christiansborg Castle, Gold Coast, ca. 1750

9. Phases of the Slave Trade
2. The Middle Passage
Journey over the Atlantic Ocean
people in a boat with little air & much disease

10. Phases of the Slave Trade
2. The Middle Passage - Tight Pack
Higher mortality, higher profits

11. Phases of the Slave Trade
2. The Middle Passage - Loose pack
Lower mortality, lower profits

12. Phases of the Slave Trade
3. “Seasoning” -
Brutal work camps, 4-5 months in Caribbean
Meant to train people to be slaves

13. (Don’t write down – just think!)
Thinking Question:
(Don’t write down – just think!)
Given how many people died during the “Capture phase” or on the “Middle passage,” what do you think went on in the minds of the slave catchers and slave traders?

14. Triangle Trade North America Molasses Rum, weapons The Caribbean
Africa
Slaves

15. Growth of Slavery Why Africans? Americas are desperate for labor
Harder for Africans to run away than Native Americans
African strengths - agricultural practices, resistance to diseases

16. Growth of Slavery How did African slaves fight back?
Open revolt (rare)
Work slowdowns
Breaking Tools
Poisoning food

17. (Don’t write down – just think!)
Thinking Question:
(Don’t write down – just think!)
While many slaves resisted, not all of them did. What did they have to lose?

18. Growth of Slavery How much did it grow? 1800 - 1 million in slavery
million (1/3 of Southern population)

19. Growth of Slavery Why? Cotton Gin
Invented made slavery VERY productive
100x faster than by hand
More efficient = more $ (so need more slaves)