2. THESIS
While the North and South American colonies all treated
their slaves in the same manner, abuse and deprivation
plentiful, both acquired and used slaves for different
purposes, thus effecting the populations of slaves and
indigenous peoples. Some groups, such as the
Spanish, worked their slaves, both African and
indigenous Antilleans, to death searching for
gold, whereas the Portuguese and American colonists
placed a higher priority on cash crop production.
Also, slaves living in the American colonies tended to
have a longer lifespan due superior conditions, as
compared to those of the Caribbean and Brazil.
3. AFRICAN CAPTIVES
African captives were used for trade in the slave market as
laborers. The captives were usually shackled together and
transported to the slave ship, from which they would be sent off
to their final destination.
4. SLAVERY – KONGO
Initially, the Portuguese wished to establish a good relationship Kongo
rulers and use this relationship to their advantage. Kongolese
populations decreased during the civil wars of Kongo. The Portuguese
took advantage of Kongo's weakness and their relationship at the time
and enslaved many of Kongo's citizens. Even with decreasing Kongolese
populations due to civil war, slave trade peaked with the enslavement of
the country's citizens.
5. SLAVERY – BENIN
Along the coast of Benin was the Bight of Benin. Along this
bight, slave exporting was common. The Bight of Benin made up
about 20% of the transatlantic slave trade, and an estimated 2-3
million slaves were exported from the coast. The exported
slaves were to the New World, mainly Brazil and the Caribbean.
6. SLAVERY BY THE PORTUGUESE
The Portuguese established connections with the rulers of
Kongo much before the civil wars broke out within the country.
The Portuguese used the wars to their advantage and enslaved
many of Kongo's people. They used the acquired slaves for labor
on the numerous sugar plantations in Brazil.
7. SLAVERY BY THE SPANISH
The Spanish began by enslaving the indigenous people of the
Antilles. The indigenous people died in large numbers due to
the forced searching for gold and other physical labor. They later
imported Africans for use as laborers, mainly for mining in the
Spanish underground mines searching for gold.
8. SLAVERY BY THE NORTH AMERICAN COLONIES
The North American colonies initially used indentured servants for
labor; however, they saw the servants as much too expensive and
turned to slave labor. Slave populations in the colonies flourished due
to the sufficient living conditions, in comparison to those conditions of
the Caribbean and Brazil. The slaves were used mainly for the
production of tobacco for distribution to the British.
9. MIDDLE PASSAGE
The middle passage was one of the three legs of triangular
trade. Numerous slaves were sent from Africa to the New World
during this first portion of trade.
10. SLAVE SHIP INTERIOR
The interiors of slave ships were specially designed for housing
slaves and allowing them to be packed as tightly as possible. The
slaves were chained to their seats to prevent them from escaping
during transport. The interior of the ship appeared more as a cargo
hull, rather than the interior of a passenger ship.
11. LIFE ON THE SHIP
Slaves were often shackled to their seats or the floor of the slave ship.
Due to this restriction of movement, the slaves were unable to move
around the hull or escape from the ship altogether. Also, slaves were
unable to escape from the immense amount of bodily waste and corpses.
This greatly increased the mortality rate among the slaves during
transport. Crew members would check up on the slaves if need be.
12. TRIANGULAR TRADE
In triangular trade, slaves, raw materials, and manufactured goods
were transported and traded among the Caribbean, West Africa, and
Europe and the English colonies. Slaves went from West Africa to
the Caribbean and were used to produce cash crops. These crops
were sent to the English colonies and Europe, in which
manufactured goods were created and sent to West Africa.
13. SLAVE AUCTIONS
Advertisements were created prior to auctions in hopes of
attracting buyers. The posters identified the health,
classifications of the slaves being sold, and the "quality" of
them. At the auctions, an auctioneer would sell the slave to the
highest bidder, much like modern day auctions.
14. INSPECTIONS AND SALES
Slaves were inspected prior to being sold. The better condition
the slave was in, the more that slave would be purchased for.
Healthier slaves tended to sell faster than those of lesser health.
15. North America
Caribbean Brazil
PLANTATION LIFE – CARIBBEAN, BRAZIL, NORTH AMERICA
In comparison, North American plantations were superior to those in the
Caribbean and Brazil. Living conditions were superior for the most part, and slaves
tended to live longer lives. Due to these greater conditions, the birth rate of slaves
was higher than the death rate in American colonies. Caribbean and Brazilian
plantations focused mainly on sugar production, as it was the most demanded
product in the market. North American plantations centered their production
around cotton and tobacco, being as the market for both was high in Britain.
16. SLAVE BRANDS
Branding of slaves was used for identifying the owner in case
the slave escaped. Metal brands with embossed insignias were
heated and pressed into the slaves' skin, scarring the mark of
the owner onto their bodies. This scarring established
ownership of the slave.
17. SLAVE MUZZLES
Slave muzzles, also known as "iron muzzles," were used for
controlling slaves. Spiked metal pieces protruded into the
mouth and inflicted pain whenever the tongue moved, thus
silencing the slave. Designs varied, but all served the same
purpose.
18. SLAVE ABUSE
Just like the iron muzzle, abuse was used as a form of
punishment and control. Methods of abuse included
whipping, use of the iron muzzle, imprisonment, burning, and
shackling. The goal of abuse was to weaken the slave, or
"motivate" then to continue working.
19. SLAVE STATISTICS
The chart on the right shows the statistics of slave exportation within African
countries, most of which came from West Central Africa and the Bight of Benin.
Both were prime locations for accessing the Atlantic ocean and the transatlantic
slave trade. The chart on the right displays the buyers of the exported slaves, most
going to the Spanish American Mainland for use in searching for gold, and the
Caribbean for use on sugar plantations. The North American colonies hadn't bought
many slaves as their superior living conditions made for an efficient work system.
