Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade

Trans-Atlantic Trans-Atlantic Slave TradeSlave Trade

US Civil WarUS Civil WarOf all the contradictions in Of all the contradictions in

America’s history, none surpasses America’s history, none surpasses its toleration first of slavery and its toleration first of slavery and then of segregation.then of segregation. – Stephen – Stephen

AmbroseAmbrose

Middle Passage Video Middle Passage Video ClipClip

YoutubeYoutube Clip Clip

Slave TradeSlave Trade

WhenWhen Between 1500 & 1807Between 1500 & 1807

WhyWhy Cheap labor sourceCheap labor source

430,000 imported to U.S.430,000 imported to U.S.

Slave Regions in AfricaSlave Regions in Africa

Slave trade moved people along 3000 Slave trade moved people along 3000 miles of Africa’s west coast to the New miles of Africa’s west coast to the New WorldWorld

Many slaves were brought from inland Many slaves were brought from inland areas of Africaareas of Africa

Slave CoffleSlave Coffle

Middle Passage 1600’s – Middle Passage 1600’s – 1850’s1850’s

Approx. 60 forts build Approx. 60 forts build along the west coast of along the west coast of Africa.Africa.

Walked in slave Walked in slave caravans to the forts caravans to the forts some 1000 miles away.some 1000 miles away.

Selected by the Selected by the Europeans and branded.Europeans and branded.

One half survived the One half survived the death march.death march.

Place in underground Place in underground dungeons until they dungeons until they were boarded on ships.were boarded on ships.

Middle Passage StatisticsMiddle Passage Statistics

10-16 million Africans forcibly 10-16 million Africans forcibly transported across the Atlantic from transported across the Atlantic from 1500-1900.1500-1900.

2 million died during the Middle 2 million died during the Middle Passage (10-15%)Passage (10-15%)

Another 15-30% dies during the Another 15-30% dies during the march to the coast.march to the coast.

For every 100 slaves that reached the For every 100 slaves that reached the New World, another 40 died in Africa New World, another 40 died in Africa or during the Middle Passage.or during the Middle Passage.

Middle PassageMiddle PassageConditions on Board the Conditions on Board the

ShipShip Slaves chained together and Slaves chained together and

crammed into spaces sometimes less crammed into spaces sometimes less than five feet high.than five feet high.

Slavers packed three of four Slavers packed three of four hundred Africans into the ship cargo hundred Africans into the ship cargo holds.holds.

Little ventilation, human waste, Little ventilation, human waste, horrific odors. Unclean.horrific odors. Unclean.

1789 Slave Ship, Brooks1789 Slave Ship, Brooks

Tight packing - belly to back, chained in Tight packing - belly to back, chained in twos, wrist to ankle (660+), naked.twos, wrist to ankle (660+), naked.

Loose packing - shoulder to shoulder Loose packing - shoulder to shoulder chained wrist to wrist or ankle to ankle.chained wrist to wrist or ankle to ankle.

Men and woman separated (men placed Men and woman separated (men placed towards bow, women toward stern).towards bow, women toward stern).

Fed once or twice a day and brought on Fed once or twice a day and brought on deck for limited times.deck for limited times.

Middle PassageMiddle Passage Journey lasted 6-8 weeks.Journey lasted 6-8 weeks. Due to high mortality rate, cargo was Due to high mortality rate, cargo was

insured (reimbursed for drowning insured (reimbursed for drowning accidents but not for deaths from disease accidents but not for deaths from disease of sickness)of sickness)

Common to dump your cargo for sickness Common to dump your cargo for sickness or food shortages.or food shortages.

Slave mutinies on board ships were Slave mutinies on board ships were common (1 out of every 10 voyages across common (1 out of every 10 voyages across the Atlantic experience a revolt).the Atlantic experience a revolt).

Covert resistance (attempted suicide, Covert resistance (attempted suicide, jumped overboard, refusal to eat).jumped overboard, refusal to eat).

Growth of African American Growth of African American PopulationPopulation

18201820 1.77 million1.77 million 13% free13% free





Early 18th Century - 36,000 per yearEarly 18th Century - 36,000 per year During 1780’s - 80,000 per yearDuring 1780’s - 80,000 per year Between 1740-1810 - 60,000 captives/year Between 1740-1810 - 60,000 captives/year

on average.on average. 17th Century - slave sold in the Americas 17th Century - slave sold in the Americas

for about $150 eachfor about $150 each Slave Slave tradetrade illegal in Britain in 1807, US illegal in Britain in 1807, US

1808, France 1831, Spain 1834.1808, France 1831, Spain 1834. Once declared illegal prices went much Once declared illegal prices went much

higher. 1850s prime field hand $1200 - higher. 1850s prime field hand $1200 - $1500 (about $18,000 in 1997 dollars).$1500 (about $18,000 in 1997 dollars).

Slave Auction, Richmond Slave Auction, Richmond VA (1861)VA (1861)

Old Slave Mart – Old Slave Mart – Charleston SCCharleston SC

Part of a complex Part of a complex of buildings used of buildings used for the sale of for the sale of slaves to slaves to plantation owners plantation owners all across the all across the American SouthAmerican South

Museum stands Museum stands there todaythere today

Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade

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