African Diaspora : The Forced Migration of Nations

1. African Diaspora: The Forced Migration of Nations THE LARGEST IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD

3. Who Can We Blame? • Slavery has existed since the beginnings of human civilization • Portugal: Begins to establish “factories” along eastern African coast by 1440s

4. Video Clip • http://www.history.com/shows/mankind-the-story-of-all-of-us/videos/african-slave-trade • John Green: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnV_MTFEGIY

5. The Largest Reason for Massive Slave Imports • SUGAR (Labor intensive=Required huge amounts of labor) • Europe gained a sweet-tooth • From 1450-1850 = 10 - 12 million Africans shipped to the Americas • 1700s = time period when 80% of the slaves were shipped • Which region received few slaves in comparison?

6. Slave Trade in the Americas • By comparison, few slaves shipped to North America • Why? The slave population grew in the North America due to birth rates • In South America & the Caribbean, they needed a constant flow to make up for dead slaves (indentured servants?) • Brazil received 41% of all slaves • By the end, Africa’s total population had been cut in half (from around 50 million to 25 million)

7. Why So Many? • Once other European nations realized the massive wealth opportunities, they wanted a piece of the human slave-trade pie • Could make as much as 300% profit from 1 journey • English = Royal African Company • Dutch = Dutch East India Company • Competition between European Nations helped them dominate the world

8. Effects: Environmental • More profitable to clear new lands when old fields decline in productivity • Led to Deforestation; by 1800 only interior lands still had dense forests • New animals introduced started to crowd-out native species • Little land left for Native populations • Africans brought agricultural techniques such as rice cultivation that became highly profitable • New foodstuffs from the Americas were eventually brought to Africa & improved diet/quality of life

9. Effects: Human • Africa’s West Coast lost entire villages & future leaders  African Diaspora • Slave journey was degrading & horrifying • Up to 18 hours of work per day • Family formation difficult • Few female slaves • Loss of traditional structures – family members bought & sold • Many workers died within a few months of arrival - Life expectancy: Males 23; Females 25.5 • Harshest working conditions experienced in Brazil & the Caribbean

10. The Middle Passage • The “second leg” of the Triangular Trade (Africa-the Americas) • Horrifying ordeal • Chained together • Men kept separate from boys, girls and women • 4 square feet of space per person onboard ship • Journey lasted 3-6 weeks • Death=common (from contagious disease, bad food, dysentery, refusal to eat) • Ships were equipped with special nets to catch people who jumped

11. Slavery in the Colonies • Primarily worked on plantations • Some continued skilled jobs such as carpentry • Women were often domestic servants • % of slaves far outnumbered masters so they lived in constant fear of rebellion, therefore used harsh discipline techniques • Constant whippings, floggings & mutilations

12. How was Slavery Justified? • Religious • Bible (Curse of Ham/Canaan) • [Genesis 9:20-27] • Slavery produced massive amounts of wealth • People are not born equal • White, Europeans: • Slaves were “content” (because they sang) • “Slaves live better lives than in Africa.”