Triangle Trade, Mercantilism, and the

Impact of SLAVERY (Unit 1, Segment 2 of 5)

Trans-Atlantic Trade■ America became an important part of the

trans-Atlantic trade network– The colonies produced profitable raw

materials, such as tobacco, wheat, fish, indigo, & whale oil–Britain sold manufactured goods back to

the colonists, such as clothing, tea, guns, & tableware–African slaves were brought to America

via the Middle Passage

Trans-Atlantic Trade Patterns (Before 1660)

Colonial raw materials helped drive British manufacturing& the colonies presented a

new market for the British to sell their finished goods

What were the top 3 colonial exports?

South

Middle

New England

South

South

New England

Trans-Atlantic Trade Patterns (Before 1660)The increased demand for colonial raw materials,

increased the demand for African slaves

This pattern of trade between Europe, the colonies, and Africa became known as

the Triangular Trade

Trans-Atlantic Trade Patterns (Before 1660)When the British colonies were first founded, there were few restrictions on who the colonists could trade with

Mercantilism ■ By the 1650s, the British gov’t began to

embrace the economic policy of mercantilism: – The colonies exist to generate wealth

for the mother country–Promoted a balance of trade (more

exports than imports)–Meant that colonial trade must be

regulated & controlled

Mercantilism

Slavery in the “Southern” Colonies

■ Slavery in the Southern colonies was far more common than in the Northern colonies:–Cash-crop agriculture, like tobacco &

rice, required workers–By 1660, fewer indentured servants

were coming to America–80-90% of Southern slaves were field

workers, most on plantations

Slavery in the “Southern” Colonies

■ Slave culture in the South:–Slaves came from a variety of places

in West Africa & had a variety of languages & cultures–Music & dance were used to

maintain their African culture–Families were common, but

marriage was not recognized –Slave religion often blended African

rituals with Christianity

The Slave Population■Slavery led to resistance: –Runaway slaves were common–Sabotaging of field tools &

intentionally slowing down the work were common techniques of slave resistance

Impact of the Slave Trade Approx. 1500-1800 (?)

Slave Trade outlawed in Denmark (1803), G.B. (1807), U.S. (1808), France (1814), Netherlands (1817), Spain (1845)

Slavery itself? The Numbers:

15th-16th Centuries – 2,000 Africans exported per year

17th Century – 20,000 “…” 18th Century – 55,000 “…” 1780s – slave exports averaged 85,000 per year, some

times exceeding 100,00 per yearTOTAL NUMBER EXPORTED: 10 - 12 million

(2 + million died during transport--the middle passage)

Impact of the Slave TradeWhat impact did slave trade have upon African

society? Not all of Africa was affected equally by the trade The role of Geography: Kingdoms of Rwanda and Burundi

were safe because they were interior kingdoms Some African societies benefited economically and

flourished (Ex.) Oyo, Asante, and the Dahomey built powerful states with newly obtained firearms

Losses from the Slave trade: Individual societies drastically impacted (Angola and

Senegal—near slave ports) Distortion of gender ratios (2/3rds of slaves exported

were male) Caused political turmoil among African societies

Q. How could this happen? How is one able to justify enslaving another, especially in such a brutal fashion?

A. Dehumanization (see reading)

The Legacy of SlaveryRead ”Why is it important to study

the history of slavery? What is its legacy?”

1. When finished write one complete sentence that summarizes James Horton’s argument.

2. Do you agree or disagree with James Horton? Explain why.

Slavery in the 21st CenturyRead Newsweek article, “Slavery:

Human Bondage is Immoral and Illegal…”

1. Compare slavery in the 21st Century with what you know about the Triangular trade.

Complete the Venn Diagram

Journal ?s1. What if you were alive during the triangular trade?

What if you knew then what you knew now?2. Is ignorance bliss? You can no longer claim

ignorance about he modern slave trade. Will this make any practical difference?

3. 21st Century Slavery claims more lives than the triangular trade. They say knowledge is power. Is it? What power do you have now that you know about this slave trade?

4. If racism is the legacy of the triangular trade, what is will be the legacy of the 21st Century sex trade?