Influences of African Slave Trade on Latin America

1. Influences of African Slave Trade on Latin America

2. Daily Warm Up • Why were African slaves “imported” to Latin America and the Caribbean?

3. SS6H2a • The student will explain the development of Latin America and the Caribbean from European colonies to independent nations. a. Describe the influence of African slavery on the development of the Americas.

4. Essential Question • How did African slavery influence the development of Latin America and the Caribbean?

5. Why African Slaves? • At first, the Europeans that had settled Latin America used the Native Americans for labor purposes. • Most of the labor force was lost to European diseases. • European settlers in Latin America had to look elsewhere for much needed laborers.

6. Slavery in Africa • Slavery was practiced in Africa long before the Europeans arrived. • Slaves were not designated by skin color. • Slaves were chosen because they were outcasts, captured in war, or broke laws. • Some slaves actually sold themselves into slavery to obtain money for their families. • Slavery was accepted as just another sign of accumulating wealth.

7. It’s All About Business • The idea that the slave trade developed when the advanced Europeans swept down on helpless Africans is false. • Europeans and Africans developed a commercial partnership. • Africans traded gold, ivory and slaves to Europeans in exchange for guns, horses, and textiles.

8. African Slave Trade Effects on Latin America and the Caribbean • Population- grew exponentially. • Populations of Latin America of mixed dissent. Mulattos were people of African and European ancestry. • Very few people in Latin America and the Caribbean are strictly of Native American ancestry.

9. African Slave Trade Effects on Latin America and the Caribbean • Economy- Latin America and the Caribbean were now able to efficiently harvest labor-intensive crops- mainly sugar with the help of African Slave Labor. • Slave labor made it profitable to mine for precious metals. • The Industrial Revolution was partially funded by agricultural profits form the Americas. • Invention of the Steam Engine funded by plantation owners from the Caribbean.

10. African Slave Trade Effects on Latin America and the Caribbean • Religion Africans normally combined elements of their religions with that of Christianity. Examples: Trinidad (Caribbean)= Shango religion, a combination of Catholic, Baptist and West African beliefs. Brazil (South America)= mainly Catholic but many worship the African Sea Goddess, Iemanja.

11. African Slave Trade Effects on Latin America and the Caribbean • Music African drum rhythms were combined with spanish guitars for the Cuban Salsa. Other African drum rhythms influenced the music of Latin America and the Caribbean: mambo, cha-cha, and the rumba are some examples. Rap music has African roots.

12. Summary • How did African slavery influence the development of Latin America and the Caribbean?