The

Triangular
Trade
(Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade)
DEFINITION

Triangular Trade:
Trade routes
between Africa,
Europe and the
Americas during
the Atlantic Slave
Trade.

Video 
 Spain, Portugal,
& England

 They needed slaves to work on

their plantations in South
America, the Caribbean, &
North America
ENGLAND

 Atbeginning, only a few slaves came to

English colonies.

 But when tobacco, cotton & rice plantations

grew in the colonies, slave trade increased.

 Britainwas given control over much of slave

trade  had a monopoly
Maps of the Triangular Trade
M
idd
le
Pa
ssa
ge

t al it y rate**
or
**lower m
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.
 Slaves were obtained by:
1. Kidnapping
2. Trading
3. Tributes (gifts)
4. People in debt
5. Criminals
6. Prisoners of tribal wars
Goree, or Slave-Stick

A forked branch which opens exactly to the size of a

neck so the head can't pass through it.

 The forked branch is pierced with two holes so that an

iron pin comes across the neck of the slave . . ., so that
the smallest movement is sufficient to stop him and even
to strangle him
Goree, or Slave-Stick
 Forced Participation

 AfricanChiefs resisted in the beginning; BUT

needed weapons for defense.

 Europeans too powerful; resistance was

unsuccessful

 Ifchiefs 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
Fort
Elmina
 Leg Two: THE MIDDLE PASSAGE
- Voyage from Africa to Americas
- 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 = loss of $ for sailors.
Leg Two: THE MIDDLE
PASSAGE
 “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
Click picture for video
Leg Three: THE HOMEWARD
PASSAGE
 Africans sold at auctions in Americas

 Money from sale would buy cargo of raw

materials: cotton, sugar, spices, rum,
chocolate or tobacco.

 In Europe, converted raw materials into

finished products.
Auctions (don’t write down)
 There were 3 ways slaves were auctioned off:
1. Public Auctions:
- They put tar on the slaves to hide any sores and
cuts
- Slaves were inspected
- An auction to took place and the higher 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 a European name.
Auctions (don’t write down)

2. Private Auctions:
- Similar to public auctions
- They were indoors and red markers
would be placed on the door to
indicate an auction.
Auctions (don’t write down)

3. A 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.
AUCTIONS
 American born slaves who had skills were most
expensive
 Africanborn slaves were less $, as they had to be
“broken in”
 Age, sex, & skills determined cost
 Slaves with many scars considered too rebellious

3 ways: public auction, private auction, or

scramble
Click for Auction Video
 SLAVERY ABOLISHED IN
BRITISH EMPIRE
 1807 = slave trade abolished in British Empire  no slaves
carried from Africa in British ships.

 1834 = Emancipation Act: slaves under 6 yrs. old freed;

field hands over 6 worked for 6 more years; house slaves
worked 10 more years

 Britaingave 20 million pounds in compensation to former

slave owners (slaves received nothing)

 1838 all slaves given complete freedom

 Slavery in USA not abolished until 1865

Slave Trade Overview
Video
The Atlantic Slave Trade in
Two Minutes

 http://www.slate.com/articles/life/
the_history_of_american_slavery/2015/06/
animated_interactive_of_the_history_of_the_atlantic_slave_
trade.html