Beginnings of Slavery in the

AmericasChapter 2, Section 4

Bell Ringer:1. Look at the illustrations on page 78. What can you infer about the

conditions aboard the ships on which Africans were transported to the Americas?

2. What do these conditions suggest about the attitude of the traders toward the Africans?

Key Terms0Slavery – the practice of holding a person in bondage for

labor0African Diaspora – the forced removal of Africans from their

homelands to serve as slave labor in the Americas0Middle Passage – the middle leg of the triangular trade

route (the voyage from Africa to the Americas) that brought captured Africans into slavery

0Slave codes – a law passed to regulate the treatment of slaves

0Racism – the belief that some people are inferior because of their race

The Origins of American Slavery0Slavery was not new, went back to ancient civilizations

0What forms has slavery taken through history?0 Domestic servants in wealthy households0 Laborers in mines and fields0 War prisoners0 Sold to pay off debt

Origins of American Slavery

Some slaves were treated with respect0 Allowed to marry0 Own property0 Children of slaves often were free

Slavery changed with the rise of sugar plantations – why?0 Sugar plantations required a lot of labor

Slavery and Sugar0Spanish and Portuguese colonies in North America

0 Brought the plantation system with them0Tried to enslave Native Americans

0What happened? 0 They died from overwork and disease; some also rebelled

0They look to other sources – Spanish slaves, black Christian slaves, and Asian slaves0Why was this not a solution?

0 There weren’t enough of any of those groups to meet demand

Slavery and Sugar0Four basic reasons Spanish and Portuguese enslaved

Africans0 1. Africans were immune to most European diseases0 2. Africans had no friends or family in the Americas0 3. Enslaved Africans provided a permanent source of

cheap labor0 4. Many Africans had worked on farms in their native

lands

The Slave Trade0Spanish governor of Hispaniola, Diego Colon, wrote to King

Ferdinand 0 Complains of labor shortage0 Who is Diego’s famous father?

0Why did the slave trade increase between 1500 and 1800?0 Slave trade grew with the demand; colonies became

dependent on slave labor

The Slave Trade0Role of European slave traders and the rulers of West

African kingdoms?0 They participated in the slave trade

0Where did the coastal, local kings get the captives?0 From inland Africa

0What did the African kings get in exchange for captives?0 European goods (textiles, ironware, wine, and guns)

0What effect did the slave trade have on inland African societies?0 Made coastal kingdoms rich while weakening inland Africa

The Middle Passage0African Diaspora

0 Diaspora – the scattering of people outside their homeland0Middle Passage

0 It was the middle leg of the triangular trade0Triangular trade – refers to the movement of trade ships between

Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

The Middle Passage0What were conditions like on the slave ships?

0 Who was Olaudah Equiano?0 Why would slave traders pack so many captives onto slave

ships?

Slavery in the Americas0What happened to the slaves who survived the journey?

0 Sold at auction0Some taken to large homes to be servants0Most forced to do hard labor 0Fed and housed poorly

0How did slaves resist?0 Ran away, rebelled

0How did the Spanish government respond?0 Slave codes

0What was the purpose of these laws?0 Regulate the treatment of slaves; most were designed to punish slaves

Slavery in the Americas

0How did slavery influence racial attitudes among Europeans?0 Dark skin color became a sign of inferiority0 Slavery led to racism

Slavery in the Americas0Slave trade lasted for nearly 400 years (1500s-1800s)0Contributed to the Columbian Exchange

0 Africans brought knowledge of farming and animals0 American crops like sweet potatoes, peanuts, and chilies went to

Africa

0 Exchange of African cultures0Strong artistic heritage

of dance, music, andstorytelling

0Brought together peoplefrom different parts of Africa with different cultural traditions.

0Helped create a common African-based culture in the Americas

0By the end of the slave trade in the late 1800s, 12 million Africans had been enslaved and sent to the Western hemisphere. Of these, perhaps two million died during the voyage.