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Slavery and Triangular Trade Notes

The Triangular Trade involved three routes between Africa, Europe, and the Americas during the Atlantic Slave Trade. Ships would leave Europe with goods, capture or purchase slaves on the west coast of Africa (Leg One), transport the slaves across the Atlantic to the Americas in terrible conditions (Leg Two known as the Middle Passage), and return to Europe with raw materials from the Americas (Leg Three). Africans were then sold into slavery at auctions in the Americas, completing the triangle. The slave trade profoundly impacted lives and helped drive economic growth through the exploitation of slave labor until it was abolished in the 1800s.

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Emil Herrera
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144 views

Slavery and Triangular Trade Notes

The Triangular Trade involved three routes between Africa, Europe, and the Americas during the Atlantic Slave Trade. Ships would leave Europe with goods, capture or purchase slaves on the west coast of Africa (Leg One), transport the slaves across the Atlantic to the Americas in terrible conditions (Leg Two known as the Middle Passage), and return to Europe with raw materials from the Americas (Leg Three). Africans were then sold into slavery at auctions in the Americas, completing the triangle. The slave trade profoundly impacted lives and helped drive economic growth through the exploitation of slave labor until it was abolished in the 1800s.

Uploaded by

Emil Herrera
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The

Triangular
Trade
(Trans-Atlantic Slave
Trade)
DEFINITION

Triangular Trade:
Trade routes
between
Africa, Europe
and the
Americas
during the
Atlantic Slave
Trade.
Video 
Spain, Portugal,
& England

 Theyneeded slaves to
work on their plantations
in South America, the
Caribbean, & North
America
ENGLAND

 Atbeginning, only a few slaves came


to English colonies.

 Butwhen tobacco, cotton & rice


plantations grew in the colonies,
slave trade increased.

 Britainwas given control over much


of slave trade  had a monopoly
Maps of the Triangular Trade
M
id
dl
e
Pa
ss
ag
e

r t a lit y rate**
mo
**lower
Leg One: THE OUTWARD
PASSAGE
 Shipsleft Europe loaded with guns, tools,
textiles (manufactured goods)
 Crews with guns went ashore to capture
slaves & purchase slaves from tribal leaders.
 Slaves were obtained by:
1. Kidnapping
2. Trading
3. Tributes (gifts)
4. People in debt
5. Criminals
6. Prisoners of tribal wars
Goree, or Slave-Stick

A forked branch which opens exactly to the


size of a neck so the head can't pass through
it.

 The forked branch is pierced with two holes so


that an iron pin comes across the neck of the
slave . . ., so that the smallest movement is
sufficient to stop him and even to strangle him
Goree, or Slave-Stick
Forced Participation

 African
Chiefs resisted in the beginning;
BUT needed weapons for defense.

 Europeans too powerful; resistance was


unsuccessful

 Ifchiefs did not supply slaves, they were


threatened to be taken as slaves.
 Slaves were held in
prisons along the west
coast of Africa.

 They were waiting to


put on slaves ships.

 Those that journeyed


from the interior and
were not fit for the
ship were left on the
shores to die
Fort
Elmina
Leg Two: THE MIDDLE
PASSAGE
- Voyage from Africa to Americas
- Ships sailed across Atlantic Ocean from Africa
to Americas, carrying slaves & gold
- Journey took 5-12 weeks
- DISGUSTING CONDITIONS
- Some Africans tried to jump ship, refused to
eat & rebelled.
- Loss of slave’s life = loss of $ for sailors.
Leg Two: THE MIDDLE
PASSAGE
 “Loose packing”: captains took
fewer slaves in hope to reduce
sickness & death.

 “Tightpacking”: captains carried


as many slaves as their ship could
hold  many died on voyage
Click picture for
Leg Three: THE
HOMEWARD PASSAGE
 Africans sold at auctions in Americas

 Moneyfrom sale would buy cargo of


raw materials: cotton, sugar, spices,
rum, chocolate or tobacco.

 InEurope, converted raw materials into


finished products.
Auctions (don’t write down)
 There were 3 ways slaves were auctioned
off:
1. Public Auctions:
- They put tar on the slaves to hide any
sores and cuts
- Slaves were inspected
- An auction to took place and the higher
bidder would get to purchase the slave.
- Bids were taken as long as an inch of a
candle burned.
- Slaves were branded
- Families were separated
- They were given a European name.
Auctions (don’t write
down)

2. Private Auctions:
- Similar to public auctions
- They were indoors and red
markers would be placed on
the door to indicate an
auction.
Auctions (don’t write
down)
3. A Scramble:
- They would take place on the
docks or on the deck of the ship
- There would be a fixed price per
head
- Slave owners would go in and
grab who they wanted to
purchase.
AUCTIONS
 Americanborn slaves who had skills were
most expensive
 Africanborn slaves were less $, as they
had to be “broken in”
 Age, sex, & skills determined cost
 Slaves with many scars considered too
rebellious

3 ways: public auction, private


auction, or scramble
Click for Auction Video
SLAVERY ABOLISHED IN
BRITISH EMPIRE
 1807 = slave trade abolished in British Empire 
no slaves carried from Africa in British ships.

 1834 = Emancipation Act: slaves under 6 yrs.


old freed; field hands over 6 worked for 6 more
years; house slaves worked 10 more years

 Britaingave 20 million pounds in compensation


to former slave owners (slaves received nothing)

 1838 all slaves given complete freedom

 Slavery in USA not abolished until 1865


Slave Trade Overview
Video
The Atlantic Slave Trade
in Two Minutes
 http://www.slate.com/articles/life/the_history_of
_american_slavery/2015/06/animated_interactiv
e_of_the_history_of_the_atlantic_slave_trade.ht
ml

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