Lesson 7: The Atlantic Slave Trade

Key Idea

Slavery has existed for thousands of years in many societies. In ancient times, people often became slaves after being captured in war or falling into debt. This status was not always permanent, and it was not based on a person's race.

The Atlantic slave trade created a new and crueler system called chattel slavery. This system was based on race and was permanent. It was also hereditary, meaning children of enslaved mothers were born into slavery for life. Enslaved people were treated as property, not as human beings.

Key Idea

European colonists in the Americas established huge farms called plantations. They grew valuable cash crops to sell for large profits in Europe. This created a massive demand for workers.

The most profitable of these crops was sugar. Growing and processing sugar was difficult and dangerous work that required a constant labor force. To meet this demand, European traders began enslaving millions of Africans and forcing them to work. This need for labor became the economic engine for the Atlantic slave trade.

Key Idea

European nations developed a vast trade network across the Atlantic Ocean. This system became known as the Triangular Trade because it had three main parts. On the first leg, European ships sailed to Africa carrying manufactured goods like guns and cloth.

In Africa, these goods were exchanged for enslaved people. The ships then began the horrific journey across the Atlantic to the Americas, a voyage known as the Middle Passage.

Key Idea

Enslaved Africans endured a horrific journey across the Atlantic Ocean known as the Middle Passage. They were crammed into dark, crowded spaces on slave ships for weeks or months. Disease, starvation, and brutal treatment were common, and many did not survive the voyage.

Survivors were sold in the Americas and forced into a life of slavery. They were considered chattel, meaning they were treated as personal property with no rights. Enslaved people worked long, hard hours, often on sugar plantations, and faced constant violence from their owners.