Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade

& ImperialismThe Devastation of a Continent

History of the trade Slavery has existed

in Africa throughout history

Slavery was on a much smaller scale

Slavery was not hereditary

Profit from Slavery Sugar made slavery profitable Huge profits for Europe from slave labor Made industrialization possible

Results of the Slave Trade Population

reduced by about 15 million

Increased tribal warfare

Results of African Trade Trans-Sahara

trade (gold- salt trade) destroyed

Coastal African states became rich at the expense of the interior

End of the Slave trade 1772 British

abolished the slave trade

Early 1800s most other European powers stopped slave trade

Ended in Americas in 1880s

Missionaries Missionaries

came to spread Christianity and wipe out slave raids

Built schools, hospitals, and churches

Missionaries in Africa Looked down on

Africans

Often misunderstood African culture and traditions

Viewed Africans as “savages”

ImperialismA nation’s policy of extending its power and dominion over

other nations by using force or indirect economic or political

control

Reasons for Imperialism Gain power

and prestige

Natural resources

Market to sell goods to

Imperialism Spread Traders put

pressure on European governments

Africans were forced to sign treaties giving up control

Imperialism Spread Tribal chiefs

asked Europeans to exert control

Europeans refused to leave

Imperialism Changes Africa… Arbitrary

boundaries

Africans forced to pay taxes

Natural resources exploited

Imperialism Changes Africa Best farmland

taken by Europeans

African political systems were changed

Education and infrastructure improved