Colonial Slavery

AP US History

Captured Africans being brought to the coast to be traded

Elmina Fortress, Ghana

Gate of No Return, Ghana, West Africa

Olaudah Equiano

"The first object which saluted my eyes when I arrived on the coast was the sea, and a slave ship, which was then riding at anchor, and waiting for its cargo. These filled me with astonishment, which was soon connected with terror, when I was carried on board. I was immediately handled, and tossed up to see if I were sound, by some of the crew; and I was now persuaded that I had gotten into a world of bad spirits, and that they were going to kill me."

Olaudah Equiano, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano (London: Printed for and sold by the author, 1790), p. 46.

The life that awaited most slaves in the colonies

Phyllis Wheatley

To the King’s Most Excellent Majesty 1768

Your subjects hope, dread Sire– The crown upon your brows may flourish long, And that your arm may in your God be strong! O may your sceptre num'rous nations sway, And all with love and readiness obey! But how shall we the British king reward! Rule thou in peace, our father, and our lord! Midst the remembrance of thy favours past, The meanest peasants most admire the last May George, beloved by all the nations round, Live with heav'ns choicest constant blessings crown'd! Great God, direct, and guard him from on high, And from his head let ev'ry evil fly! And may each clime with equal gladness see A monarch's smile can set his subjects free!

• Revolt by African slaves led by Joseph Cinqué bound for Cuba• Ship intercepted off the coast of Long Island• People onboard are brought to CT to be sold as slaves• However, sale of African slaves illegal in the US since 1808• Supreme Court Case: Were the slaves ‘salvage’?

• John Quincy Adams argued the case for the slaves• Decision: slaves illegally transported and must be freed

Joseph Cinqué returned to Sierra Leone in 1842