Slavery in the Colonies

1. Slavery in the Colonies

2. The Atlantic slave trade • English colonists, especially from New England, were actively shipping enslaved Africans across the Atlantic • Slave traders set up posts along the West African coast • Africans who lived along the coast made raids into he interior seeking captives to sell to Europeans • Captives were bound at the leg and neck and forced to march as far as 300 miles to the coast • Half died along the way

3. Middle Passage • Once at coast, captives were traded for guns and other goods • Loaded onto slave ships and transported across Atlantic on a voyage that became known as the Middle Passage • To increase profits captains crammed as many captives as they could on board– up to 350 in tiny deck below with no air or light • As a result of the conditions 15-20% died

4. Middle passage • Once they reached America the enslaved Africans were put up for auction • Might be sold one by one or in groups • Families were separated • About 500,000 came to British North America • Majority went to Spanish colonies

5. Triangular trade • British colonies developed a regular routine: Triangular Trade: three way trade between the colonies, the islands of the Caribbean, and Africa • First leg: • Ships from New England carry fish, lumber, and other goods to Caribbean islands. There Yankee traders bought sugar and molasses, then they sailed back to New England. Made rum with molasses and sugar

6. Triangular trade • Second leg: • Ships carried rum, guns, and other goods from New England to West Africa. There merchants traded the goods for enslaved Africans. • Third leg: • Ships carried human cargo to the West Indies for sale. With the profits traders bought more molasses.