The British Transatlantic Slave Trade

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  • The British Transatlantic Slave Trade
    • Origins
      • Slavery had begun as early as the Roman Empire which relied heavily on slave labour.
      • The Portuguese explored Africa in the mid-15th century and captured a small number of Africans to be used as slaves.
      • The slave trade was thriving by the 1600s with 80% of captured Africans being sent to the Americas to work on plantations.
    • Justifications
      • The Americas needed a large workforce as many native Americans had caught disease from European settlers and died.
      • Europeans saw black people as physiologicall-y different and suggested that they had smaller brains but were much stronger.
      • Europeans claimed that Africa was uncivilised even though it had a rich culture and brilliant architecture.
      • The University of Timbuktu was renowned for medical excellence in West Africa.
    • Capturing Slaves
      • Many slaves were prisoners of war who were sold to Europeans.
      • In some cases, African Chiefs would trade their own people in return for European gunpowder, cloth and jewellery.
      • Some Black people were paid to capture other Africans
    • The Triangular Trade Route
      • From Africa, slaves were shipped to the Americas.
    • The Middle Passage
      • The Middle Passage is the journey from Africa to the Americas. It usually took about 12 weeks.
      • It was not uncommon for 2/3 of the slaves to die on large ships during the middle passage.
      • The ships had horrific conditions, hundreds of slaves were tightly packed together, often lying in their own waste.
      • It has been rumoured that slave ships could be smelt even when miles away from the port.
      • Some slaves tried to overthrow the white sailors, but were often weakened by a lack of food and water and disease.
      • The first group of slaves arrived in Virginia in 1619.
    • Slave Auctions
      • When slaves arrived in the Americas, they were sold at auction.
      • Slave auctions often separated families as they were sold to different owners.
      • To make them look healthier, slaves would be covered in oil or have their cuts filled in with tar. This meant they would sell for a higher price.
      • The most attractive slaves were young women as they could be used to produce more slaves.
      • Young men were the second most popular as they were stronger.
    • Life on the Plantation
      • Plantation life differed dependent on the owner. However, large plantations were typically the worst.
      • Slaves often worked long hours doing physically strenuous work including farming cotton and sugar cane.
      • Slaves were frequently punished with whips and punishment collars. Or they could be sold away from their families. Many slaves were hung as a warning to others.
      • Slaves tried their hardest to keep their culture alive whilst on plantations.

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