Gisella's School

The Atlantic Slave Trade was a major social and cultural development in Europe and the new World from the 16^th to 19^th centuries.

Most slaves were captured in West Africa and then transported to the new world. Many Africans were brought to the new world in this way that they actually represented the largest immigrant population to the new world until late in the 18^th century. The Portuguese were the first to capture slaves in Africa and force them into hard labor in the New World. The Portuguese colonies in South America needed many laborers to produce the commodity crops they were known for: sugar, coffee, cotton, and tobacco were common crops grown with slave labor. The Atlantic Slave Trade is divided into two eras, the First and Second Atlantic systems. The First Atlantic System involved enslaved Africans being transported by Portuguese traders, mostly to the Portuguese colonies. This started in 1502 and continued until 1580. The second Atlantic System includes the rest of the slave trade from 1580 to the 19^th century. Slave traders included Portuguese, Kusch, French, and English captains at this time. Most slaves were transported to the Caribbean Islands at this time, where each country had several territories. The Atlantic Slave Trade abused the lives of approximately 10,000,000 slaves while it was in operation. Over half the slaves were captured and traded in the 18^th century, with England as the largest shipper of slaves. England eventually abolished the slave trade, long before the American colonies, but not before much damage had been done. The Atlantic Slave Trade transported slaves by the Triangular Trade Route, making profits at each stop. Goods were brought from Europe to Africa, then slaves would be transported to the new world, and finally a shipment of crops would return to Europe. Sir John Hawkins, Francis Drake’s mentor, was among the first to pioneer this route. While much of the blame for the slave trade rests on the European captains and new world famers, the Africans themselves are also at fault. Many Africans would sell the captives of local wars into slavery to the Europeans. Since they were not part of the war it was considered acceptable to do away with the captives. However, there were plenty of Kings who refused to participate in the slave trade, feeling that it was not right. So they fought it and won.

Slaves were much better treated in Africa than they were in America at this time, though it progressively changed through the years.