The Middle Passage

1. The Middle Passage African Slavery in the Americas

2. One of a handful of pictures of slavery in America What emotions does this photo provoke?

3. Humans for sale Why advertise that half the slaves have had smallpox? (see bottom)

4. Background Facts • Trade spanned 400 years • 15th-19th Century • First enslaved Africans arrive in Virginia in 1619 • Estimated 25-30 million Africans forcibly taken from West Africa • To North America, South America, Caribbean • England, Portugal, Spain , France traded Africans

7. Why • Colonies needed labor • Native American first used • died off due to disease, maltreatment ran away • Europeans turned to Africans • Some of First Africans Indentured Servants • After few years, freed

8. Indentured Servants • Passage to new world in exchange for limited servitude (slave labor) • First enslaved Africans 1619 • Virginia • Eventually became free

9. Triangular Trade • Trading Process • Goods and humans exchanged across the Atlantic Ocean

10. Middle Passage • Described trade of Africans • 1 to 5 months • Captured and sold by fellow Africans • Slave forts on Western Africa • Branded for identification • Loaded onto slave ships

13. Unspeakable Cruelty • Packed in cargo hold • Up to 700 Africans a ship • Slaves chained together at leg • Food scarce, malnourished • Death rate very high • Disease, malnutrition, suicide

14. Slave Trade Perspectives • Directions 1. Each person read a different perspective and then trade • Slave traders in Africa • Trading outposts • Captains of ships • Slave traders in America • From Africa to America Write 5 facts from each article 2. Share and discuss/ jot down main notes 3. Summarize… Compare the perspective of the slaves and slave traders