Chapter 20 Chapter 20

Discussion and ReviewDiscussion and Review

SLAVERYSLAVERY

What are the various theories as to why African slave What are the various theories as to why African slave labor was so widely used in the Americas? labor was so widely used in the Americas?

Several/ schools of thought. A once popular theory held that Several/ schools of thought. A once popular theory held that Africans were more resistant to disease, as well as better suited Africans were more resistant to disease, as well as better suited to heavy work in tropical climates. to heavy work in tropical climates.

Another held that use of Africans was motivated primarily by Another held that use of Africans was motivated primarily by prejudice. prejudice.

Eric Williams has refuted that particular theory with his Eric Williams has refuted that particular theory with his famous quote that “Slavery was not born of racism: rather, famous quote that “Slavery was not born of racism: rather, racism was the consequence of slavery.”racism was the consequence of slavery.”

Another assertion was that slaves were cheap. They were not, Another assertion was that slaves were cheap. They were not, but since white Europeans’ indentures were relatively brief, the but since white Europeans’ indentures were relatively brief, the high cost of slaves could be minimized over a longer period of high cost of slaves could be minimized over a longer period of time. time.

Rising sugar prices also meant that sugar growers could afford Rising sugar prices also meant that sugar growers could afford more expensive African slaves.more expensive African slaves.

The Atlantic Slave The Atlantic Slave TradeTradestarted in the started in the

1500s to fill the 1500s to fill the need for labor in need for labor in Spain’s American Spain’s American empire. empire. Europeans relied Europeans relied on European traders on European traders and African tribes and African tribes to seize captives in to seize captives in the interior and the interior and bring them to bring them to coastal trade posts coastal trade posts and fortresses. and fortresses.

Discuss the interactions between Europeans and Discuss the interactions between Europeans and Africans in the Atlantic slave trade.Africans in the Atlantic slave trade.

Europeans were initially interested in trade, not in colonizing Europeans were initially interested in trade, not in colonizing and controlling Africa. and controlling Africa. It was a partnership between European and African elites It was a partnership between European and African elites

It was African kings and merchants who controlled the trade, It was African kings and merchants who controlled the trade, not Europeans. not Europeans. Most slaves taken from Africa were prisoners of warMost slaves taken from Africa were prisoners of war

Africans did not barter people for cheap goods, as is often Africans did not barter people for cheap goods, as is often described. described. They demanded high-quality goods that they could not produce, or at They demanded high-quality goods that they could not produce, or at

least produce in large quantities. least produce in large quantities. Guns and textilesGuns and textiles

African gold, ivory, and timber remained important features of African gold, ivory, and timber remained important features of European trade. European trade.

African governments controlled both the price and the quantity African governments controlled both the price and the quantity of slaves and could unilaterally suspend the trade when they of slaves and could unilaterally suspend the trade when they wished. wished.

trade differed widely from region to region within Africa, trade differed widely from region to region within Africa, depending on both the African and European nations that were depending on both the African and European nations that were involved.involved.

Give a detailed description of the Great Circuit.Give a detailed description of the Great Circuit. The flow of goods and people between Europe, Africa, and the The flow of goods and people between Europe, Africa, and the

Americas had many variations. Americas had many variations. Some trading patterns were three-sided, or triangular.Some trading patterns were three-sided, or triangular.

First leg was a trade route from Europe to Africa First leg was a trade route from Europe to Africa Middle passage was a voyage from Africa to the AmericasMiddle passage was a voyage from Africa to the Americas

Others were two-sided. For example, New England shipped Others were two-sided. For example, New England shipped foodstuffs and livestock to the West Indies in return for rum and foodstuffs and livestock to the West Indies in return for rum and molasses. molasses.

Overall, goods flowed from Europe to Africa, where they were Overall, goods flowed from Europe to Africa, where they were exchanged for many different items, as well as slaves. exchanged for many different items, as well as slaves.

Slaves were carried to the Americas, where they were sold or Slaves were carried to the Americas, where they were sold or exchanged. exchanged. 1 out of every 6 slaves died during the voyage1 out of every 6 slaves died during the voyage

The primary products carried from the Americas to Europe were The primary products carried from the Americas to Europe were sugar, coffee, cacao, rum, molasses, and tobacco. sugar, coffee, cacao, rum, molasses, and tobacco.

Besides this larger pattern, the Atlantic Circuit had many smaller Besides this larger pattern, the Atlantic Circuit had many smaller variations. variations.

While large numbers of Africans were victims of these patterns, While large numbers of Africans were victims of these patterns, many African merchants and rulers were able to profit from many African merchants and rulers were able to profit from participating in the Atlantic trade.participating in the Atlantic trade.

Triangular Trade GrowsTriangular Trade GrowsThe Atlantic slave trade formed one part of a three-The Atlantic slave trade formed one part of a three-legged trade network know as the triangular trade.legged trade network know as the triangular trade.

Original Triangle Trade Original Triangle Trade Route: Slaves, Route: Slaves,

Sugar & RumSugar & Rum

SlaveSlavess

SugarSugar

RumRum

Destinations of Enslaved Destinations of Enslaved Africans, Africans,

1500–18701500–1870

Greatest sugar producer in 1600 – Brazil

Greatest sugar producer in 18th century – Saint Domingue (Haiti)

How did the Saharan slave trade differ from the How did the Saharan slave trade differ from the Atlantic slave trade?Atlantic slave trade?

While the number of enslaved Africans in the Saharan While the number of enslaved Africans in the Saharan trade was smaller than in Atlantic trade, it was still trade was smaller than in Atlantic trade, it was still substantial. substantial.

Indigenous Muslim states controlled both sides of the Indigenous Muslim states controlled both sides of the Saharan trade, although most of the slaves were non-Saharan trade, although most of the slaves were non-Muslim African captives.Muslim African captives. Islamic law prohibited the enslavement of Muslims, but some Islamic law prohibited the enslavement of Muslims, but some

where still enslaved where still enslaved

Slaves served different purposes in Muslim societies Slaves served different purposes in Muslim societies than in the Americas: most were servants; others than in the Americas: most were servants; others performed state and military functions. The Atlantic performed state and military functions. The Atlantic slave trade was heavily male; the Saharan slave trade slave trade was heavily male; the Saharan slave trade heavily female.heavily female.

What was the life of a slave working on a plantation in What was the life of a slave working on a plantation in the eighteenth century? the eighteenth century?

Slaves were organized into “gangs” for field workSlaves were organized into “gangs” for field work ““drivers” typically a male slave kept tight control over the drivers” typically a male slave kept tight control over the

slavesslaves Rewarded for good work and punished harshly for failing to Rewarded for good work and punished harshly for failing to

meet daily quotas and/or showing any form of resistancemeet daily quotas and/or showing any form of resistance Worked hard to avoid punishmentWorked hard to avoid punishment

Most slaves died of diseasesMost slaves died of diseases Death RateDeath Rate

Most slaves died of diseasesMost slaves died of diseases Life expectancy of a Brazilian male was 23 yearsLife expectancy of a Brazilian male was 23 years

Low reproductive rates and high numbers of new Low reproductive rates and high numbers of new slave imports were an integral part of slaves’ family slave imports were an integral part of slaves’ family and social lives. and social lives.

Impact of the Atlantic Impact of the Atlantic Slave TradeSlave Trade By the 1800s, an By the 1800s, an

estimated 11 million estimated 11 million enslaved Africans enslaved Africans had reached the had reached the Americas. Another 2 Americas. Another 2 million probably million probably died during the died during the Middle PassageMiddle Passage In West Africa, the In West Africa, the loss of countless loss of countless numbers of young numbers of young women and men women and men resulted in some resulted in some small states small states disappearing disappearing forever. forever.

Slave CollarSlave Collar So a So a runaway runaway could be could be heard!heard!

A A Different Kind of Different Kind of Slavery…Slavery…BUTBUT

"Anyone can say "Anyone can say that slavery has that slavery has existed forever," existed forever," says Frans says Frans Fontaine, "even the Fontaine, "even the Greeks and Romans Greeks and Romans had slaves.” had slaves.” But But this kind of slavery this kind of slavery was different - it was different - it was fixed to race. was fixed to race. You became a slave You became a slave because you were because you were black. black.

A Different Kind of A Different Kind of Slavery…Slavery…BUT BUT

But slavery didn't fit in But slavery didn't fit in with Christian ideals so with Christian ideals so there was a very good there was a very good solution for this problem; solution for this problem; black people, Europeans black people, Europeans and Americans and Americans determined, they were not determined, they were not really humans. really humans.

And that is the most cruel And that is the most cruel part of this form of part of this form of slavery. Blacks were not slavery. Blacks were not people, they said,…could people, they said,…could therefore be enslaved. therefore be enslaved.

The Economic Systems of The Economic Systems of Mercantilism & Capitalism AppearMercantilism & Capitalism Appear

Two new economic Two new economic policies prevailed in policies prevailed in Europe during the Europe during the 16th, 17th, and 18th 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries both centuries both effected the wealth of effected the wealth of the nation but the nation but mercantilism mercantilism advanced the advanced the nation’s wealth and nation’s wealth and capitalism the capitalism the individual/share individual/share holders. holders.

•

Reading:

“Mercantilism Explained”

The Economic Systems of Mercantilism & Capitalism AppearThe Economic Systems of Mercantilism & Capitalism Appear

Mercantilism comprised the policies of European Mercantilism comprised the policies of European states to promote overseas trade and defend national states to promote overseas trade and defend national interests.interests. Protect trade and accumulate precious metals Protect trade and accumulate precious metals English Navigation Acts –confine ships to English ships and English Navigation Acts –confine ships to English ships and

cargoescargoes

Capitalism (means of production are privately owned) Capitalism (means of production are privately owned) involving the management of large financial resources involving the management of large financial resources through banks, stock exchanges, and trading through banks, stock exchanges, and trading companies. companies.

Mercantilist policies that supported capitalism included Mercantilist policies that supported capitalism included chartered companies, tariffs, and trade laws. chartered companies, tariffs, and trade laws.

The largest capitalist overseas investments were in The largest capitalist overseas investments were in the sugar plantations of the Caribbean. the sugar plantations of the Caribbean.

MercantilismMercantilism New Economic System New Economic System

Governmental control was exercised Governmental control was exercised over domestic industry and all trade over domestic industry and all trade

Believed that national strength is Believed that national strength is secured by more exports than secured by more exports than imports imports

All resources were for the benefit of All resources were for the benefit of the mother country the mother country

Real wealth was measured in the Real wealth was measured in the amount of gold and silver in the amount of gold and silver in the national treasurynational treasury

How Did Economic ChangesHow Did Economic Changes Affect Europeans? Affect Europeans?

The impact of economic change The impact of economic change depended on a person’s social class. depended on a person’s social class.

1.1. Merchants who invested in overseas ventures Merchants who invested in overseas ventures acquired acquired wealth. wealth.

2. 2. Nobles, whose wealth was in land, were hurt by the Nobles, whose wealth was in land, were hurt by the inflation. inflation.

3. 3. Hired workers in towns and cities faced poverty and Hired workers in towns and cities faced poverty and discontent discontent

when their wages did not keep up with inflation. when their wages did not keep up with inflation.

4. 4. Peasants, the majority of Europeans, were not affected until Peasants, the majority of Europeans, were not affected until

centuries later. centuries later.

Within Europe’s growing cities, there were Within Europe’s growing cities, there were

great differences in wealth and power. great differences in wealth and power.