Slave Trade Began• In 15th Century Portugal

explored West Coast of Africa & purchased slaves.

• By 1500 10% of Population of Lisbon were African slaves.

• After 1492, other European nations joined in slave trade.

Middle Passage

• Historian Philip Curtin est. 9,566,000 Africans brought to Western Hemisphere

• no one knows how many died being captured & transported--60 million?

BritishCaribbean

FrenchCaribbean

SpanishAmerica

Dutch &Danish WestIndies

United States

Brazil

33%

5%7% 12%

20%

22%

Where were the slaves brought to?

In Caribbean

• Sugar Plantations

• Europe’s craving for sugar was the # 1 reason for the transatlantic slave trade

• British Jamaica imported 748,000 > half of them died from the harsh life on sugar plantations

The United States• Tobacco

• rice

• Indigo

• Cotton (after 1800)

• in North --dock workers

Virginia• 1st Africans

brought to Virginia in 1619

• Sold as indentured servants

• Gradual institutionalization of slavery in 17th century

• By 1760 20% of colonial population were slaves.

• 1st Africans brought to Virginia in 1619

• Sold as indentured servants

• Gradual institutionalization of slavery in 17th century

• By 1760 20% of colonial population were slaves.

South Carolina

• Largest percentage of slaves in U.S.

• Charleston main port between colonies & Caribbean

• work Rice Plantations– Rice exported to

Caribbean to feed slaves

Slave revolts in colonies

• 250 recorded incidents of slave rebellions in the Americas

• New York slave revolt of 1712

• Stono Rebellion in South Carolina, 1739

Olaudah Equiano

• His biography started the opposition to slavery in the colonies [1745-1797]

How Was Slavery in Americas Unique

• 1st Africans were indentured servants> institution of slavery evolved during 17th century

• Slavery by Race

• Hereditary>1 slave parent led to slavery for the child

• Slaves property with no rights