The Atlantic Slave The Atlantic Slave TradeTrade

1500s – mid 1800s1500s – mid 1800s

How did the Atlantic How did the Atlantic slave trade shape the slave trade shape the lives and economies of lives and economies of

Africans and Africans and Europeans?Europeans?

Triangular TradeTriangular Trade

►A triangle shaped series of trade A triangle shaped series of trade routes linking Europe, Africa and the routes linking Europe, Africa and the Americas across the AtlanticAmericas across the Atlantic Shipped people AND goods (commodities)Shipped people AND goods (commodities)

Triangular Trade PROFIT!Triangular Trade PROFIT!

►Merchants grew wealthyMerchants grew wealthy►Shipbuilding industry thrived in New Shipbuilding industry thrived in New

EnglandEngland►Successful Successful port citiesport cities

SlavesSlaves

►Slaves from Africa were part of this Slaves from Africa were part of this triangular trade, known as the triangular trade, known as the Transatlantic Slave TradeTransatlantic Slave Trade..

Slavery in AfricaSlavery in Africa

►The Spanish were the first European The Spanish were the first European partners in the slave tradepartners in the slave trade Remember, slavery was not invented at Remember, slavery was not invented at

this time; this is just the first time that this time; this is just the first time that Europeans are trading with Africa for their Europeans are trading with Africa for their slavesslaves

To the ShipsTo the Ships

►Most Africans were taken from inland Most Africans were taken from inland villagesvillages Forced to march to coastal portsForced to march to coastal ports Bound to each other with ropes and Bound to each other with ropes and

chainschains Many died along the wayMany died along the way

►WaitingWaiting Those who survived were restrained in Those who survived were restrained in

holding pens and warehousesholding pens and warehouses

The Middle PassageThe Middle Passage

►The Middle Passage is the name of the The Middle Passage is the name of the journey by ship to Europe and the journey by ship to Europe and the Americas (North, South and Central)Americas (North, South and Central)

The horrors of the Middle The horrors of the Middle PassagePassage

►The middle passage was brutal, cruel, The middle passage was brutal, cruel, and beyond what most of us could and beyond what most of us could ever imagine enduring.ever imagine enduring.

►The descriptions in the following video The descriptions in the following video are graphic in nature.are graphic in nature.

Perils while on the Middle Perils while on the Middle PassagePassage

►The ships, and the slaves aboard, faced The ships, and the slaves aboard, faced many other hardshipsmany other hardships StormsStorms Raids by pirate shipsRaids by pirate ships Mutinies (revolts by the captive Africans)Mutinies (revolts by the captive Africans) Disease & DeathDisease & Death

►DysenteryDysentery►Small poxSmall pox►No apparent disease at all often killed the No apparent disease at all often killed the

captivescaptives►Suicide Suicide

ImpactImpact► Wealth to merchants and traders (from all Wealth to merchants and traders (from all

countries)countries)► Provided labor that helped colonial economies growProvided labor that helped colonial economies grow► African states and societies torn apartAfrican states and societies torn apart► Lives of individuals cut short or forever brutalizedLives of individuals cut short or forever brutalized► Historian estimate: Historian estimate:

Enslaved Africans sent in the 1500s: 2,000/yearEnslaved Africans sent in the 1500s: 2,000/year Enslaved Africans sent in the 1780s (the peak of the Enslaved Africans sent in the 1780s (the peak of the

trade): 80,000/yeartrade): 80,000/year 11 million enslaved Africans had reached the Americas by 11 million enslaved Africans had reached the Americas by

the end of the trade in the mid-1800’sthe end of the trade in the mid-1800’s 2 million probably died along the Middle Passage2 million probably died along the Middle Passage Unknown how many died before they even reached the Unknown how many died before they even reached the

shipsships

Assignment: Occasion/Position Thesis Assignment: Occasion/Position Thesis StatementStatement

►Write a thesis statementWrite a thesis statement in the following in the following format:format:

Assume that for this assignment, the African Assume that for this assignment, the African slave trade was the most influential event of the slave trade was the most influential event of the age of exploration. Say why in your statement.age of exploration. Say why in your statement.

Then, Then, list at least 3 factslist at least 3 facts as evidence. as evidence.

The Occasion:Is the first part of the thesis statementIntroduces your reason for writingCan be any event, problem, idea, solution

The Position:Is the second part of the thesis statementStates what you plan to prove or explain in your paragraph

Example:Example:

Because Christopher Columbus loved the sea,Because Christopher Columbus loved the sea, he spent his life aboard a ship looking for a he spent his life aboard a ship looking for a Western passage to Asia.Western passage to Asia.

Use these as “starter words” for your statement:Use these as “starter words” for your statement:After because in order that when While WhetherAlthough before in order to whenever unless thoughAs even since Where if even thoughAs if even if so that Wherever as soon as as long as