Learning Intention: I will understand the origins of Atlantic Slavery and its consequences for Black Americans in the US
What factors drove the demand for chattel slavery?
How was the use of slavery in this time period different from slavery in previous periods of history?
What is chattel slavery?
Explain the triangular trade.
How were West African kingdoms involved in the slave trade?
What was the Middle Passage?
What was life like for slaves in sugar plantations?
What is the African Diaspora?
How did the environment help the economy of the South.
Why would slave holders have devised the slave codes?
Who were the abolitionists?
What are maroon societies?
What factors drove the demand for chattel slavery?
How was the use of slavery in this time period different from slavery in previous periods of history?
What is chattel slavery?
Explain the triangular trade.
How were West African kingdoms involved in the slave trade?
What was the Middle Passage?
What was life like for slaves in sugar plantations?
What is the African Diaspora?
How did the environment help the economy of the South.
Why would slave holders have devised the slave codes?
Who were the abolitionists?
What are maroon societies?
Global Networks of Exchange
Origins of the Atlantic Slave Trade
The origins of the African Slave Trade can be traced back to the Age of Exploration in the 15th Century. Europeans had become quite addicted to the luxuries of exotic spices, silks and porcelain that could only be found in Asia. Unfortunately for them, Muslim traders had a complete monopoly over the trade routes to the Far East. Unsuccessful in the attempt to break that monopoly, they started to explore water routes that would enable them to bypass the Muslims. The Portuguese took the lead in that exploration and sent voyages down the west coast of Africa in hopes of finding a new route to the source of traded goods. On those voyages they found a new type of good- human beings.
Ancient Slavery vs Atlantic Slave Trade
Slavery had been part every many civilizations. The Romans, Greeks, Aztec and to some extent the Chinese all had slavery. However, ancient slavery was different. Atlantic slavery was racialized meaning that slaves were black and native. No whites were enslaved. In Ancient slavery, the slave owners were often the same race. In Atlantic slavery people were enslaved only because of their skin color. Differences among people in ancient times were in terms of language culture or religion. Ancient slaves were typically people captured in war, people who were in debt or people who had committed crimes. Additionally, ancient slaves had some rights like being able to marry and purchase their freedom. In this “new” slavery, purchasing your freedom was much more difficult. Most importantly in Atlantic slavery, people were considered chattel or legal property of the slave owner. However, both ancient and Atlantic slavery were created to take advantage of free labor. Both created a social hierarchy were the slaves were at the bottom
Africans had been traded as slaves for centuries -reaching Europe via the Islamic-run, trans-Saharan, trade routes. Slaves obtained from the Muslim dominated North African coast however proved to be too well educated and therefore harder to control, and had a tendency to rebellion.
Africans had been traded as slaves for centuries -reaching Europe via the Islamic-run, trans-Saharan, trade routes. Slaves obtained from the Muslim dominated North African coast however proved to be too well educated and therefore harder to control, and had a tendency to rebellion.
Atlantic Trade Network: Slave Trade
Mercantilism in Europe drove European countries to explore the world, establish an empire of colonies, and bring back raw and produced goods to export from the mother country to be used or exported. As European empires expanded to the New World, however, they lacked one major resource - a work force.
Triangular Trade: Europeans' desire for labor in plantations led to one of the saddest chapters in World History. An estimated 12 million human beings were transported from Africa to the Americas. Slaves were taken from villages by both African kings who exchanged the captives for weapons and other manufactured products. The slaves worked the colonies' plantations providing raw materials to the mother country who would turn them manufactured products. This process was called the triangular trade.
West African Kingdoms: For centuries, Arabs sold Africans across the Sahara. By the 1400s, European merchants started buying African slaves from West African kingdoms in exchange for guns, rum, textiles, and other manufactured goods. African slave trading kingdoms became economically dependent on Europe. To gain more slaves for the trade, West African kings waged war on neighboring tribes. Africans were captured during slave raids and forced to march to the coast on Death Marches (25% of those captured died). Africans were then sold to European slave traders. Kingdoms like the Dahomey and the Oyo became richer due to the slave trade. Additionally, since these kingdoms were able to get gunpowder weapons, they were able to invade weaker neighboring kingdoms to keep the slave trade profits.
Since the majority of the slaves traded were male slaves, a gender imbalance was created by the slave trade. Women began to take more responsibility in the labor duties working more in the farms. Because there were many more women then men, the practice of having multiple wives increased. Many other women married wealthy white merchants. Those women, known as signares, sometimes created their own trading empires. Furthermore, many women became important political leaders. One example of these women leaders is Queen Nzinga who rebelled against Portuguese Imperialism. |
The Middle Passage: The journey from Africa to the Americas took several months. To increase profits, slave traders overcrowded the ship’s cargo hold with African slaves. Male Africans were chained together with very little space to move or sleep. Diseases ran rapid on slave ships due to the heat and lack of sanitation. European slavers would torture Africans to keep them from rebelling. Revolts on slave ship did occur but were usually failed to defeat the Europeans. Some Africans committed suicide to avoid life in servitude. About 15% of captured Africans died in the Middle Passage. |
Sugar Plantations: With the decline of native populations due to diseases, male Africans slaves were sold to sugar plantations in Brazil and the Caribbean. The British had plantations in Barbados and Jamaica. The French had Haiti. The Dutch had Aruba Bonaire and Curacao.
The hot tropical climate was needed to grow sugar. Slaves worked all day in the sugar fields and boiling rooms in grueling conditions. One is three slaves died while getting accustomed to the conditions in the plantations. On average, salves in these sugar plantations could expect to live 7 years. Do to the high mortality, most slaves kidnapped from Africa went to either the Caribbean or Brazil. |
The transatlantic slave trade contributed mostly to creating a large community of African origins in the American continent, especially in the US and in Brazil. This is what is called the African diaspora or a large community of people living outside their original homeland
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Southern Plantations
THE SOUTHERN COLONIES AND SLAVERY Farming was the main economic activity in the Southern Colonies. The region's warm, sunny climate and rich soil allowed farmers to grow huge quantities of valuable cash crops such as tobacco, cotton and rice. These crops brought big profits to many Southern planters. The wealthiest of them gained control of the economic and political life of the region. Large-scale farming became a way of life for generations of Southern families. Very little commerce or industry developed in the region. For many years, British merchants based in London managed most Southern trade.
Plantations were like small villages. Their vast fields surrounded cabins, barns, workshops, and outdoor kitchens. A large plantation might even have its own chapel and school.
For years, tobacco was the main cash crop in Maryland and Virginia. Then, over time, profits from tobacco declined. Southern planters began growing other cash crops such as rice, corn, and wheat.
For years, tobacco was the main cash crop in Maryland and Virginia. Then, over time, profits from tobacco declined. Southern planters began growing other cash crops such as rice, corn, and wheat.
Enslaved people toiled in the hot Southern climate. The work was difficult and could be dangerous. As enslaved workers cleared swampy areas for planting rice, wild animals such as snakes, alligators, and disease-carrying insects were a constant threat. Many enslaved workers also suffered terrible cruelty at the hands of plantation bosses called overseers.
Since they were greatly outnumbered, Europeans terrorized the Africans to create obedience. Sometimes, African slaves organized revolts that were usually crushed by Europeans. About 5-10% of the African slave population was killed each year, requiring Europeans to buy more slaves.
Many colonies had slave codes-rules governing the behavior and punishment of enslaved Africans. Some slave codes made it illegal to teach an enslaved person to read or write. Slaveholders could punish enslaved persons for any reason by terrible means such as whipping, beating, or starvation. Those who tried to escape risked being hanged or burned to death if they were caught. Enslaved Africans' families were often torn apart when a slaveholder sold a spouse, parent, or child.
Since they were greatly outnumbered, Europeans terrorized the Africans to create obedience. Sometimes, African slaves organized revolts that were usually crushed by Europeans. About 5-10% of the African slave population was killed each year, requiring Europeans to buy more slaves.
Many colonies had slave codes-rules governing the behavior and punishment of enslaved Africans. Some slave codes made it illegal to teach an enslaved person to read or write. Slaveholders could punish enslaved persons for any reason by terrible means such as whipping, beating, or starvation. Those who tried to escape risked being hanged or burned to death if they were caught. Enslaved Africans' families were often torn apart when a slaveholder sold a spouse, parent, or child.
Resistance to Slavery
Not all colonists believed In slavery. Abolitionists were people who wanted to outlaw slavery in the colonies. Quakers and Mennonites were religious groups that condemned slavery. Eventually, the debate over slavery would spark a bloody war between North and South
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Many enslaved persons found strength In their African roots. They developed a unique culture that blended elements of plantation life with the languages, customs, and religions of their African homelands. Slaves also resisted by singing spirituals, or religious folk songs that often contained coded messages. Slave spirituals led to the creation of both jazz and the blues.
Slaves also resisted in a number of ways including; escaping, slowing down on the job, intentionally doing a job wrong. Slaves themselves fought back with various violent rebellions that we will discuss in class later. However, watch the video to learn about Maroon Societies Required to watch
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