1. Atlantic
Slave
Trade
1770-
1807

2. Scotland
and
Slavery

3. LEARNING INTENTIONS Atlantic Slave Trade 1770-1807
Describe Scotland’s role in the Atlantic Slave Trade
Explain whether or not you believe Scotland played a major role in the slave trade

4. Atlantic Slave Trade
Although it was mainly other parts of Britain that were involved in slavery, Scotland had a role too. This included building ships, slave ships setting sale and selling slave grown products.

5. Atlantic Slave Trade
Scotland was not actually a part of Britain until 1707, meaning it was excluded from trading with British colonies until then.
However once it joined some Scots saw a chance to make money by doing this.

6. Atlantic Slave Trade
A great deal of merchants in Glasgow bought and sold various products which were grown by slaves, including sugar, tobacco and cotton.
However most of these merchants only sold the products, they did not actually buy and sell slaves.

7. Atlantic Slave Trade
Some slave ships left from Scottish ports (mostly Greenock and Port Glasgow).
However they only carried a small number of slaves (5000 out of Britain’s 3 million) and ended after 1766.

8. Atlantic Slave Trade
Other Scots were involved in setting up businesses that had strong slave links.
The Bank of England was founded by a Scot (William Paterson) and funded businesses with slave links. Richard Oswald set up a slave trade post in Africa.

9. Atlantic Slave Trade 1770-1807 Richard Oswald
Oswald was one of the main slave traders from Scotland.
Oswald’s company owned a slave fort in Sierra Leone.
Oswald lived in Auchencruive House, near Ayr. This is now called Oswald Hall.

10. Some companies with slave links had Scottish roots too.
Atlantic Slave Trade
Some companies with slave links had Scottish roots too.
Greenock had a large sugar industry, with strong links to those slaves growing the product.
Much of the cotton spun in Scotland at this time had been grown by slaves.

11. Plantation owners and workers
Atlantic Slave Trade
Plantation owners and workers
Many Scots became owners of plantations in the USA and Caribbean. They used slave labour to grow products.
The Scots also worked in the Caribbean, sometimes on the plantations, other times in jobs such as doctors and lawyers.

12. Many Scots found employment on-board slave ships.
Atlantic Slave Trade
Many Scots found employment on-board slave ships.
Many of them worked as sailors, however others worked in different jobs such as ship surgeons. Large numbers of Scots were ships’ captains too.

13. Parts of Scotland also indirectly benefitted from the slave trade too.
Atlantic Slave Trade
Parts of Scotland also indirectly benefitted from the slave trade too.
For instance, the herring industry (fishing) saw bigger sales to help the food needs of the slave economies.

14. Atlantic Slave Trade
Interestingly, a look at Jamaica gives an indication of strong Scottish links.
Slaves were often given the surname of their owner. Around 60% of people in the Jamaican telephone directory have Scottish surnames e.g. McDonald.