Atlantic Slave Trade and the Columbian

Exchange

Causes of Slave Trade Existed in Africa for centuries. Spread of Islam into Africa increased slave

trade. As colonization of the Americas spread,

slave trade grew.

European Advantages in using Africans in America Immunity to European

diseases. Experienced farmers. Less likely to escape.

Not natives Skin color

Atlantic Slave Trade The buying and selling of Africans for work

in the Americas

Atlantic Slave Trade Spain, Portugal, and

England The role of African

Rulers

Triangular Trade Trade route one:

Manufactured goods to W. Africa. Goods traded for captured Africans. Africans were taken across the Atlantic and sold

in the W. Indies. Sugar, coffee, and tobacco brought back to

Europe.

Triangular Trade Trade route two:

Rum and goods from New England colonies to Africa.

Goods traded for Africans. Slaves taken to the West Indies and sold for

sugar and molasses. Sugar and molasses taken back to the rum

producers in New England.

Middle Passage Considered middle leg

of the transatlantic triangle trade.

Horrific treatment: whippings, beatings, diseases, starvation, suicide.

Consequences Africa

Lost fittest members Families torn apart Introduced guns

Americas Economic growth Cultural development

Columbian Exchange Global transfer of

foods, plants, and animals during the colonization of the Americas.

Mercantilism Economic policy:

countries increased wealth and power by obtaining large amounts of gold and silver.

Sell more goods than you buy.

Goal: Become as rich as possible