The Atlantic Slave Trade1770-1897

Introduction

Aim:

• Identify the meaning of the term ‘slavery;

Success Criteria:• You can write a definition of slavery in your

own words.• You can identify three sources of evidence

which we can use to find out about slavery.

What Is A Slave?

• A slave is a human being who is owned by another human being.

• A slave can be bought and sold, or traded, just like an animal can be bought and sold.

• A slave has no rights – the slave’s owner can beat and starve him.

• Even if a slave has children they do not belong to her, they belong to the owner who can sell them.

By the end of the 1770s (18th century), many ship carried black Slaves from Africa to the Americas.

The Americas are North America, South America and the Caribbean Islands. The Black people who live in countries such as the USA, Brazil and West Indies are descended from the slaves who came from Africa.

The slave trade was carried out with a great deal of cruelty. Many people in Britain wanted to stop (abolish) the slave trade.

The people who wanted to abolish the slave trade were called Abolitionists. Abolitionists called the slave trade ‘This Accursed Trade’ accursed is an old word for evil.

In This Topic You Will Be Studying

• How the slave trade begin and how it was organised.

• The experience of slaves who were taken from Africa.

• The effects of the slave trade on Africa, West Indies and Britain.

• The Abolitionist movement and why the slave trade was finally abolished.

Finding the Evidence

• In this course we are looking at events that happened well over 200 years ago – How do we know what happened?

• In history we look for evidence or ‘sources’ which can tell us about past events.

• A source of information that comes from the period we are studying is called a primary source. A primary source was written or made at the time.

• A source that was written later, such as a history book, is a secondary source.

Ship’s logs (diaries)

PhotographsLetters from slave

owners

Modern films or programmes

Advertisements for Slaves

Drawings

Information from websites

Captain’s diaries

Copies of speeches by Abolitionists

Diaries of Ships’

Doctors

Books writtenby ex-slaves