Slave trade to the americas

1. Slave trade to the americas �Stolen from Africa, Brought to America� Buffalo Soldier by Bob Marley

2. Earth at Night, NASA Satellite Photo, November 27, 2000 Our peaceful planet at night. It is easy to see the continents of Africa, North America, South American and some of Europe. The black abyss in the middle is the Atlantic Ocean. It is here that our story begins.

3. Map of Africa 1771 Notice that Africa is not developed then as it is now. Most of the villages are on the coast, and the inlands were left rather wild.

4. Trade route for slaves 15 million people were captured in Africa and transported across the Atlantic Ocean to be sold as slaves.

5. Strong men and women of africa were captured Notice the weapons in the hands of those capturing the Africans. People were taken by force, often tricked, and then removed from their homelands.

6. Africans caught and sold africans The Transatlantic slave trade peaked in the late 18th century, when the largest number of slaves were captured on raiding expeditions into the interior of West Africa. These expeditions were typically carried out by African kingdoms. Europeans rarely entered the interior of Africa, due to fear of disease and violent resistance.

7. Why would africans sell africans? Uprisings were occurring in Africa. Some strong men were captured and removed in the hopes that this might restore peace to communities. Greed was also a main reason for the capture and sale of slaves.

8. Want to trade? The slaves were brought to coastal outposts where they were traded for goods. Weapons like the knife above, machetes, alcohol, shells, cloth, coins and horses were traded to the Africans for the slaves.

9. Restraints used to control the africans These people were valuable to those who captured them, as they would be sold. Accordingly, they took precautions to avoid escapes.

10. The most likely to escape were restrained. The likelihood of escape was minimized for those who seemed most capable by adding heavy and awkward shackles.

11. Slaves were prepared for transport They were not given time to say goodbye to their families, or to pack their possessions. They were given water to drink, and were chained together to be easily moved onto the ships.

12. Slaves were inspected before loading It was considered an investment to transport these slaves, so they were inspected for disease or handicap before being loaded onto the boat. (No one bought a dead slave, few bought one that was really sick or crippled.)

13. Imagine traveling across the ocean on this ship Ships of this time were powered only by sails. The journey was long and difficult for any travelers, but the conditions of the slave ships were tragic.

14. People or cargo? The slaves were packed into the ship so that as many as possible would fit on the boat. (If more could be transported and sold, then more money could be made.)

15. Fully loaded? Designs were drawn to assure that as many slaves as possible could be loaded into each ship. 292 slaves were to be �stored� in the lower deck of this ship -130 of them under shelves, much like a bookcase.

16. No room to breath These captives were not given opportunities to exercise. They were not able to take baths. There was no bathroom facilities for these captives on the boat. Humiliating, degrading, and yes stinky!

17. Lonely and scared People from different areas of Africa spoke different languages. These captured people could not all communicate with one another. Even without chains, there was no place to run to, and they were hurt, embarrassed, and hungry.

18. Advertisement for a slave sale 250 newly arrived Africans were to be sold into slavery. Fine, healthy slaves because the �utmost care� was taken to assure that they were free from diseases such as small pox.

19. Slaves on the auction block Sold to the highest bidder. (The average price of a slave in the early 1800s was about $450.00) Plantation owners and overseers would select new arrivals and take them into slavery.

20. Inspection of a slave Purchasers, either at the auction block, or in an individual sale, could inspect the slaves for defect or disease.

21. What is slavery? Slavery is a form of forced labor in which people are considered to be, or treated as, the property of others. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, their purchase or from birth. They are deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to receive compensation.

22. How do we know?? Even Mrs. Lessig isn�t old enough to have been around at the time of the Transatlantic Trade Route!! So how do we know? Ship registries and records. Tax records Artifacts Journals, diaries and ledgers