Slavery in the Americas



Slavery in the Americas

Global History and Geography I Name: ____________________

E. Napp Date: ____________________

Europe's conquest and colonization of North and South America and the Caribbean islands from the fifteenth century onward created a great demand for African laborers, who were fit enough to work in the tropical conditions of the New World. The numbers of slaves imported across the Atlantic Ocean steadily increased, from approximately 5,000 slaves a year in the sixteenth century to over 100,000 slaves a year by the end of the eighteenth century.

Slaves were generally the unfortunate victims of territorial expansion by African states or of raids led by local strongmen, and various populations found themselves captured and sold depending on who had the most power. Firearms or guns, which were often exchanged for slaves, generally increased the level of fighting by lending military strength to previously weak rulers. Because of its deadly power, the rifle ultimately joined the leopard, elephant, and python as symbols of royal power.

The institution of slavery existed in Africa long before the arrival of Europeans and was widespread at the period of contact. Private land ownership was largely absent from African societies during this era, and slaves were one of the few forms of wealth-producing property an individual could possess. Additionally, rulers often maintained armies of loyal, foreign-born slaves to guarantee their political security. Slaves were also exported across the desert to North Africa and to western Asia, Arabia, and India.

It would be impossible to argue, however, that transatlantic trade did not have a major effect upon the development and scale of slavery in Africa. As the demand for slaves increased with European colonial expansion in the New World, rising prices made the slave trade increasingly profitable and more slaves were captured.

Ultimately, the international slave trade had lasting effects upon the African cultural landscape. Areas that were hit hardest by endemic warfare and slave raids suffered from general population decline.

Using information from the reading and yesterday’s lesson, complete the chart on the following page:

|Describe slavery in Africa prior to the arrival of the Europeans: |

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|State the reasons for the European and American demand for African slaves in the “New World”: |

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|Describe the “Middle Passage”: |

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|Describe “Triangular Trade”: |

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|How did the transatlantic slave trade affect Africa? |

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|Describe the treatment of African slaves in the Americas: |

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The success of the triangular trade system depended on increasing

(1) political independence of the Caribbean nations

(2) emphasis on free trade in European nations

(3) slave trade in the Western Hemisphere

(4) industrialization of the South American colonies

The exact numbers of Africans shipped overseas during the slave trade are hotly debated - estimates range between 10 and 28 million. What is undisputed is the degree of savage cruelty endured by men, women and children. Up to 20% of those chained in the holds of the slave ships died before they even reached their destination.

Between 1450 and 1850 at least 12 million Africans were taken across the notorious Middle Passage of the Atlantic - mainly to colonies in North America, South America, and the West Indies. The Middle Passage was integral to a larger pattern of commerce developed by European countries.

European traders would export manufactured goods to the west coast of Africa where they would be exchanged for slaves. The slaves were then sold for huge profits in the Americas. Traders use the money to buy raw materials such as sugar, cotton, coffee, metals, and tobacco which were shipped back and sold in Europe.

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In Europe, slavery was often justified by the state on philanthropic grounds. They argued that Africans taken into captivity could then be "saved" by conversion to Christianity. However, Europe did not have a monopoly on slavery. Muslim traders also exported as many as 17 million slaves to the coast of the Indian Ocean, the Middle East, and North Africa. Some historians say that between the years 1500 and 1900, five million African slaves were transported via the Red Sea, the Sahara and East Africa to other parts of the world.

Despite attempts to supress or even eradicate African culture, slaves and their descendants carried skills and traditions to their destination countries.

African literary traditions - particularly oral storytelling featuring the tortoise, hare, and spider - spread throughout the Caribbean, Latin America, the United States and Europe.

Complete the following acrostic:

T ___________________________________________________________

R ___________________________________________________________

A ___________________________________________________________

N ___________________________________________________________

S ___________________________________________________________

A ___________________________________________________________

T ___________________________________________________________

L ___________________________________________________________

A ___________________________________________________________

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I ____________________________________________________________

C ___________________________________________________________ Slave Trade

From The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano - 1789

Born in Benin in the late 18th century, Equiano was enslaved at the age of 11, but he became educated and secured his freedom. He was a major voice advocating an end to slavery. His narrative, written in English in 1789, immediately became a popular sensation. It is a rare glimpse of the slave trade from the point of view of the slave.

“One day, when all our people were gone out to their works as usual, and only I and my dear sister were left to mind the house, two men and a woman got over our walls, and in a moment seized us both, and, without giving us time to cry out, or make resistance, they stopped our mouths, and ran off with us into the nearest wood. Here they tied our hands, and continued to carry us as far as they could, till night came on, when we reached a small house, where the robbers halted for refreshment, and spent the night. We were then unbound, but were unable to take any food; and, being quite overpowered by fatigue and grief, our only relief was some sleep, which allayed our misfortune for a short time. The next morning we left the house, and continued traveling all the day. For a long time we had kept the woods, but at last we came into a road which I believed I knew. I had now some hopes of being delivered; for we had advanced but a little way before I discovered some people at a distance, on which I began to cry out for their assistance; but my cries had no other effect than to make them tie me faster and stop my mouth, and then they put me into a large sack. They also stopped my sister's mouth, and tied her hands; and in this manner we proceeded till we were out of sight of these people. When we went to rest the following night, they offered us some victuals, but we refused it; and the only comfort we had was in being in one another's arms all that night, and bathing each other with our tears. But alas! we were soon deprived of even the small comfort of weeping together.”

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