The Triangular Trade

DEFINITION

Triangular Trade: Trade routes between

Africa, Europe and the Americas during the Atlantic Slave Trade.

Spain, Portugal, & England

• They needed slaves to work on their plantations in South America, the Caribbean, & North America

ENGLAND

• At beginning, only a few slaves came to English colonies.

• But when tobacco, cotton & rice plantations grew in the colonies, slave trade increased.

• Britain was given control over much of slave trade ! had a monopoly

Maps of the Triangular Trade

Leg One: THE OUTWARD PASSAGE

• Ships left Europe loaded with guns, tools, textiles (manufactured goods)

• Crews with guns went ashore to capture slaves & purchase slaves from tribal leaders.

Slave-Stick-Opens exactly to the size of a neck so the head can't pass through. Pierced with two holes, an iron pin comes across the neck of the slave, so that the smallest movement will stop him or even to strangle him.

Slaves were obtained by: 1. Kidnapping 2. Trading 3. People given by

chiefs as tributes (gifts)

4. Chiefs sent people who were in debt

5. Chiefs sent criminals through judicial process

6. Prisoners of tribal wars also sent.

8

Forced Participation

• African Chiefs tried to resist in the beginning

• Europeans were too powerful

• If chiefs did not supply slaves, they were threatened to be taken as slaves.

• Slaves were held in prisons along the west coast of Africa.

• They were waiting to put

on slaves ships.

• Those that journeyed from the interior and were not fit for the ship were left on the shores to die

Leg Two: THE MIDDLE PASSAGE

- Ships sailed across Atlantic Ocean from Africa to Americas, carrying slaves & gold

- Journey took 5-12 weeks - DISGUSTING CONDITIONS - Some Africans tried to jump ship, refused to eat & rebelled. - Loss of slave’s life was a loss of $ for sailors.

LEG TWO: THE MIDDLE PASSAGE

• Voyage from Africa to the Americas

• “Loose packing”: captains took fewer slaves in hope to reduce sickness & death.

• “Tight packing”: captains carried as many slaves as their ship could hold ! many died on voyage

Leg Three: THE HOMEWARD PASSAGE

• Africans sold at auctions in Americas

• Money from their sale would buy a cargo of raw materials: cotton, sugar, spices, rum, chocolate or tobacco.

• In Europe, converted raw materials into finished products.

AUCTIONS• American born slaves who had skills were

most expensive • African born slaves were less $, as they had

to be “broken in” • Age, sex, & skills determined cost • Slaves with many scars considered too

rebellious • 3 Types of Auctions: Public Auction, Private

Action and Scramble Auction

Auction Type 1Public Auctions: • Slaves were inspected • They put tar on the slaves

to hide any sores and cuts

• Highest bidder would get to purchase the slave.

• Bids were taken as long as an inch of a candle burned.

• Slaves were branded • Families were separated • They were given

European name.

Auction Type 2

Private Auctions: - Similar to public

auctions - They were

indoors and red markers would be placed on the door to indicate an auction.

Auction Type 3A Scramble:

- They would take place on the docks or on the deck of the ship

- There would be a fixed price per head

- Slave owners would go in and grab who they wanted to purchase.