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The Last Word: No homework

Which of the following are true?1. The institution of slavery began in Britain in the 1400s.

2. Slavery in Africa was basically the same as slavery in the New World.

3. African slaves were the first to work on the plantations of the New World.

4. Throughout history, African kings actively sought to capture slaves for profit.

5. About 1% of slaves brought across the Atlantic died along the way.

6. African slaves brought over to the New World did not resist their captors.

7. The main destination for African slaves were the plantations of the American South.

8. The US was the first nation in the world to outlaw slavery.

9. Slavery and the slave trade robbed enslaved Africans of their culture.

Slavery and the Slave Trade

Origins, Development and

Impact on Africa

The Institution of Slavery

Myth #1 - The institution of slavery began in Britain during the early 1400’s.

**False… Slavery has existed for almost all of human history

Found in almost every culture in various time periods

The Institution of Slavery

Myth #2 - Slavery in Africa was basically the same as European (“New World”) slavery .

**False…

Slaves in Africa were treated more humanely Could eventually own property, become part of the family or community, or gain their freedom

Slaves in the New World had little chance of survival;

No hope of winning freedom.

The Origin of the Slave Trade

Europeans originally had more interest in the goods of Africa, and not the people In the early 1400’s, need for

slaves was small Large plantations did not exist

in Europe

The Origin of the Slave Trade

Slave trade increases with the settlement of the New World Plantations are set

up to take advantage of land and climate in the New World

The Origin of the Slave Trade Myth #3 - African slaves were the first to

work on plantations in the New World.

**False…

Originally, Natives of the New World were used to work on the plantations

They died from the work in large numbers, so a different source of labor was needed…

Why Slaves From Africa?

Europeans brought African slaves to the New World for several reasons… Native population of workers decimated by slavery Africans were believed to be better able to handle

the conditions of the New World

**As the number of plantations increases, so does the need for slaves

The Development of the Slave Trade Myth #4 - Throughout history, African kings

actively sought to capture slaves.

**False… Most slaves were captured in war or sold themselves to avoid famine As the demand increases, coastal African kings begin to actively capture Africans living inland

The Triangular Trade

The “Middle Passage”

The brutal trip of slave ships from Africa to the Americas Usually lasted from 3-6

weeks; could take up to four months

The “Middle Passage”

**Myth # 5 - About 1% of all slaves brought over to the New World died on the way.

**False…

About 10-20% died on the voyage from Africa to the New World;

Diseases, drowning, suicide, beatings

Inside of a Slave Ship

The “Middle Passage”

Myth # 6 - African slaves bound for the New World rarely resisted their captivity.

**False…Along the route, Africans often organized rebellions…

Amistad

Myth # 7 – The main destination for slaves in the New World was the American South.

Ending the Slave Trade

Myth # 8 - The United States was the first nation in the world to outlaw slavery.

**False…Abolitionists in Britain and the United States worked to end the slave trade throughout the 1800’sBritain was the first nation to outlaw the slave trade (1807) and then slavery (1833)

The US followed suit in 1865.

Effects of the Slave Trade

Myth # 9 - Slavery and the slave trade robbed enslaved Africans of their culture.

**False…Africans did much to preserve their culture;

Actually end up spreading it to other places (Diaspora)Elements of African culture can be found in many areas of the New World

Effects of the Slave Trade Economic life in Africa suffered

Young, strong men and women taken from community; production suffers

African tribes form distrustful relationships which continue for centuries

Nations of Sierra Leone and Liberia established as homeland for returning Africans