Post on 14-Dec-2015
Which of the following are true?1. The institution of slavery began in Britain in the 1400s.
2. Slavery in Africa was basically the same as slavery in the New World.
3. African slaves were the first to work on the plantations of the New World.
4. Throughout history, African kings actively sought to capture slaves for profit.
5. About 1% of slaves brought across the Atlantic died along the way.
6. African slaves brought over to the New World did not resist their captors.
7. The main destination for African slaves were the plantations of the American South.
8. The US was the first nation in the world to outlaw slavery.
9. Slavery and the slave trade robbed enslaved Africans of their culture.
The Institution of Slavery
Myth #1 - The institution of slavery began in Britain during the early 1400’s.
**False… Slavery has existed for almost all of human history
Found in almost every culture in various time periods
The Institution of Slavery
Myth #2 - Slavery in Africa was basically the same as European (“New World”) slavery .
**False…
Slaves in Africa were treated more humanely Could eventually own property, become part of the family or community, or gain their freedom
Slaves in the New World had little chance of survival;
No hope of winning freedom.
The Origin of the Slave Trade
Europeans originally had more interest in the goods of Africa, and not the people In the early 1400’s, need for
slaves was small Large plantations did not exist
in Europe
The Origin of the Slave Trade
Slave trade increases with the settlement of the New World Plantations are set
up to take advantage of land and climate in the New World
The Origin of the Slave Trade Myth #3 - African slaves were the first to
work on plantations in the New World.
**False…
Originally, Natives of the New World were used to work on the plantations
They died from the work in large numbers, so a different source of labor was needed…
Why Slaves From Africa?
Europeans brought African slaves to the New World for several reasons… Native population of workers decimated by slavery Africans were believed to be better able to handle
the conditions of the New World
**As the number of plantations increases, so does the need for slaves
The Development of the Slave Trade Myth #4 - Throughout history, African kings
actively sought to capture slaves.
**False… Most slaves were captured in war or sold themselves to avoid famine As the demand increases, coastal African kings begin to actively capture Africans living inland
The “Middle Passage”
The brutal trip of slave ships from Africa to the Americas Usually lasted from 3-6
weeks; could take up to four months
The “Middle Passage”
**Myth # 5 - About 1% of all slaves brought over to the New World died on the way.
**False…
About 10-20% died on the voyage from Africa to the New World;
Diseases, drowning, suicide, beatings
The “Middle Passage”
Myth # 6 - African slaves bound for the New World rarely resisted their captivity.
**False…Along the route, Africans often organized rebellions…
Amistad
Ending the Slave Trade
Myth # 8 - The United States was the first nation in the world to outlaw slavery.
**False…Abolitionists in Britain and the United States worked to end the slave trade throughout the 1800’sBritain was the first nation to outlaw the slave trade (1807) and then slavery (1833)
The US followed suit in 1865.
Effects of the Slave Trade
Myth # 9 - Slavery and the slave trade robbed enslaved Africans of their culture.
**False…Africans did much to preserve their culture;
Actually end up spreading it to other places (Diaspora)Elements of African culture can be found in many areas of the New World