Chapter 2 Middle Passage

1. Chapter 2 Middle Passage

2. I. European Exploration ~ Colonization • Western European countries expand during 15th century • Explore, conquer, and colonize • Trade • Eastern markets of India, China, and Japan • New World • Demand for laborers led to Atlantic slave trade

3. II. The Slave Trade in Africa • Ancient and universal phenomena • African kingdoms and Islamic nations conduct brisk commerce • Not race based • Arab merchants and West African kings imported white slaves from Europe • West African slave trade dealt mainly in women and children who would serve as concubines and servants • European demand for agricultural laborers changed slave trading patterns

4. III. The Origins of the Atlantic Slave Trade • In 15th century, slaves used as domestic servants on Iberian Peninsula • Other European countries had large work forces and little need for slaves • Purchased from African traders • Portugal and Spain dominated slave trade in 16th century • Dutch dominated 17th century • English dominated 18th century

5. IV. Growth of the Atlantic Slave Trade • Demand for labor in 16th century • Spanish gold and silver mines • Portuguese sugar plantations • Tobacco, rice and indigo • SEE Figure 2-1 and Table 2-1

6. Growth of the Atlantic Slave Trade (cont.) • Harsher in the Americas • Based on race • Most were males • Believed they were stronger laborers than females • West African women did farm work • Often withheld from trade • Agricultural workers • Chattel • Lost rights as human beings

7. Growth of the Atlantic Slave Trade (cont.) • Triangle trade and profits • See Map 2-3 • Slave, tobacco, and sugar profits funded Industrial Revolution

8. V. The African-American Ordeal: Capture to Destination • Slavery: byproduct of war between kingdoms • European traders provided firearms • Did not instigate fighting

9. The African-American Ordeal: Capture to Destination (cont.) • High mortality • Exhaustion, suicide, murder • Long, forced marches from interior to coast • Factories served as • Headquarters for traders • Warehouses for trade goods • Pens or dungeons for captives

10. The Crossing • Canary Islands to the Windward Islands • 40 to 180 days to reach the Caribbean • Pirates attacked Spanish ships • Frightening experience

11. The Slavers • Small and narrow ships • Two slaves per ship-tonnage formula • Most captains were “tight packers” • Ignored formula in the name of profits

12. The Slavers (cont.) • Crowded, unsanitary conditions • Slaves rode on planks 66” x 15” • only 20”– 25” of headroom • Males chained together in pairs • Kept apart from women and children • High mortality rates • One-third perish between capture and embarkation

13. A Slave’s Story • Olaudah Equiano • Writes autobiography of his capture/voyage • Conditions • Suicides • Smells • Feedings • See VOICES

14. A Captain’s Story • John Newton • Evangelical Christian • Slaver captain • Anglican priest • Repentance • Amazing Grace

15. Provisions for the Middle Passage • Slaves fed twice per day • Poor and insufficient diet • Vegetable pulps, stews, and fruits • Denied meat or fish • Ten people eating from one bucket • Unwashed hands spread disease • Malnutrition, weakness, depression, death

16. Sanitation, Disease, and Death • Astronomically high before 1750 • Poor sanitation • No germ theory prior to early 20th century • Malaria, yellow fever, smallpox, dysentery • After 1750 • Faster ships • Hygiene and diet better understood • Early forms of smallpox vaccinations

17. Resistance and Revolt at Sea • Uprisings were common • Most rebellions before sailing • Some preferred death to bondage • Justification for harsh treatment by slavers

18. Cruelty • Middle passage horrors exaggerated • Historian Eric Williams • Cultural context • Exceptionally cruel • Slaves had half the space allowed indentured servants and convicts • Slavery suitable only for non-Christians • Brutal treatment by crew members

19. African Women on Slave Ships • Less protection against unwanted sexual attention from European men • African women worth half the price of African men in the Caribbean markets • Separation from male slaves made them easier targets • Historian Barbara Bush • Middle passage horrors depressed sex drives

20. VI. Landing and Sale in the West Indies • Pre-sale • Bathed and exercised • Oiled bodies to conceal blemishes and bruises • Hemp plugs

21. VII. Seasoning • Modify behavior and attitude • Preparation for North American planters

22. VII. Seasoning (cont.) • Creoles • slaves born in the Americas • worth three times price of unseasoned Africans • Old Africans • Lived in the Americas for some time • New Africans • Had just survived the middle passage • Creoles and Old Africans instruct New Africans

23. VIII. The End of the Journey • Survival • One-third died • Men died at a greater rate than women • Adapted to new foods • Learned a new language • Creole dialect well enough to obey commands • Psychological ~ no longer suicidal • Africans retained culture despite the hardships and cruel treatment • Created bonds with shipmates that replaced blood kinship

24. IX. The Ending of the Atlantic Slave Trade • Cruelties help end Atlantic slave trade • English abolitionists • Thomas Clarkson, William Wilberforce, and Granville Sharp • Moral crusade and economy less dependent on slave trade • Great Britain bans Atlantic slave trade in 1807 • Patrols African coast to enforce • United States Congress outlaws slave trade in 1808 • Guinea and western central African kingdoms oppose banning slave trade

25. X. Conclusion • Nine to eleven million Africans brought to the Americas during three centuries of trade • Millions more died • Most arrived between 1701 and 1810 • Only 600,000 reached the British colonies of North America