Transatlantic Slave Trade and the Effects on the American Economy
Transatlantic Slave Trade and the effects on the american economy
Transatlantic Slave Trade The Transatlantic slave trade is a “wrenching aspect of the history of Africa and America” (Colin Palmer). The transatlantic slave trade transported African people to the “New World”. It lasted from the 16th to the 19th century. Slavery has had a big impact on African culture. The Africans were forced to migrate away from everything they knew, culture, heritage and lifestyles (Captive Passage). Coupled with they were faced with racism and overcame life-threaten situations everyday. Nevertheless the Africans preserved and survived tremendous conditions. Even though the slave trade was horrible it still contributed to the economy of the Americas-“New World” and Africa. The journey to the economy can be discussed through Africa before and after the slave trade, slavery within Africa, products produced, and many more. Slavery is a form of forced labor in which people are considered to be the property of others. Slavery was prominent all over the world before the transatlantic slave trade, but the Atlantic slave trade is remembered as an account of horrible history in the African culture and even America. In the 15th century the Atlantic slave trade began. The journey to the Americas is another act of perseverance of the Africans, for who survived. The journey started in Africa where slaves were cram into very small boats. Usually the ships were divided into three platforms decks, which were only five feet apart. One each of these decks slaves were assembled similar to how books are arranged on a shelf. Needless to say the ships were very cramped and confined. In addition the slaves were shackled together by their feet and hands. Only those women who did not pose a threat could go without shackles, and children nearly never wore shackles. In such terrible conditions it is estimated that 100 million slaves survived the journey, and 40 percent of slaves who boarded the slave
Transatlantic Slave Trade The Transatlantic slave trade is a “wrenching aspect of the history of Africa and America” (Colin Palmer). The transatlantic slave trade transported African people to the “New World”. It lasted from the 16th to the 19th century. Slavery has had a big impact on African culture. The Africans were forced to migrate away from everything they knew, culture, heritage and lifestyles (Captive Passage). Coupled with they were faced with racism and overcame life-threaten situations everyday. Nevertheless the Africans preserved and survived tremendous conditions. Even though the slave trade was horrible it still contributed to the economy of the Americas-“New World” and Africa. The journey to the economy can be discussed through Africa before and after the slave trade, slavery within Africa, products produced, and many more. Slavery is a form of forced labor in which people are considered to be the property of others. Slavery was prominent all over the world before the transatlantic slave trade, but the Atlantic slave trade is remembered as an account of horrible history in the African culture and even America. In the 15th century the Atlantic slave trade began. The journey to the Americas is another act of perseverance of the Africans, for who survived. The journey started in Africa where slaves were cram into very small boats. Usually the ships were divided into three platforms decks, which were only five feet apart. One each of these decks slaves were assembled similar to how books are arranged on a shelf. Needless to say the ships were very cramped and confined. In addition the slaves were shackled together by their feet and hands. Only those women who did not pose a threat could go without shackles, and children nearly never wore shackles. In such terrible conditions it is estimated that 100 million slaves survived the journey, and 40 percent of slaves who boarded the slave
Cited: 1) Barr, Gary E. Slavery in the United States. Chicago, Illinois: Heinemann Library, 2004. Print. 2) Captive Passage. N.p.: Smithsonian Institution, 2002. Print. 3) Curtin, Philip D. The Atlantic Slave Trade: A Census. N.p.: The University of Wisconsin Press, 1969. Print. 4) Davis, Ronald. “Escaping Slavery.” http://www.slaveryinamerica.org/history/hs_es_overview.htm#Escaping. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 May 2010. 5) Inikori, Joseph E., and Stanley L. Engerman. The Atlantic slave trade: effects on economies, societies, and peoples in Africa, the Americas and Europe. N.p.: Duke University Press, 1992. Google Book Search. Web. 12 May 2010. 6) Kachur, Matthew. The Slave Trade. New York: Infobase Publishing, 2006. Print. Slavery in the Americas 7) Klein, Herbert. The Atlantic Slave Trade. N.p.: Cambridge University Press, 1999. Google Book Search. Web. 1 May 2010. . 8) Thomas, Hugh. The Slave Trade. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1997. Print. The Story of the Atlantic Slave Trade: 1440 - 1870