The Atlantic Slave Trade

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The Atlantic Slave Trade

• European World

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Origins of the Slave Trade

• 1500s
• Africans were enslaved to fill the need for labor
  in Spains American colonies

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Origins of the Slave Trade

• 1500s
• Africans were enslaved to fill the need for labor
  in Spains American colonies

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Causes

• discovery of the "New World" and the development
  of plantation economies in the Americas

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Causes

• discovery of the "New World" and the development
  of plantation economies in the Americas
• tribal conflict in Africa prior to 1500

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Causes

• discovery of the "New World" and the development
  of plantation economies in the Americas
• tribal conflict in Africa prior to 1500
• Arab traders taking slaves to North Africa and
  the Middle East prior to 1500s

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Effects

• racism
• slave traders justified the slave trade by using
  racist views to support their actions
• they portrayed Africans as "uncivilized

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Effects

• racism
• slave traders justified the slave trade by using
  racist views to support their actions
• they portrayed Africans as "uncivilized
• undermined traditional African society
• led to warfare and social decline

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Effects

• racism
• slave traders justified the slave trade by using
  racist views to support their actions
• they portrayed Africans as "uncivilized
• undermined traditional African society
• led to warfare and social decline
• cultural diffusion
• Africans were moved to
• Europe, North America, South America

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Slave Trade
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Horrors of the Middle Passage

• whippings and beatings were common

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Horrors of the Middle Passage

• whippings and beatings were common
• disease swept through the vessel

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Horrors of the Middle Passage

• whippings and beatings were common
• disease swept through the vessel
• the smell of blood, sweat, and excrement filled
  the hold

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Horrors of the Middle Passage

• whippings and beatings were common
• disease swept through the vessel
• the smell of blood, sweat, and excrement filled
  the hold
• captives often lived in their own vomit and waste

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Horrors of the Middle Passage
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Horrors of the Middle Passage

• whippings and beatings were common
• disease swept through the vessel
• the smell of blood, sweat, and excrement filled
  the hold
• captives often lived in their own vomit and waste
• 20 died of disease or brutal mistreatment

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Horrors of the Middle Passage

• The Amistad Incident
• August 1839

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Amazing Grace
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Amazing Grace

• Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
• That saved a wretch like me!
• I once was lost, but now am found
• Was blind, but now I see.
• Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
• And grace my fears relieved
• How precious did that grace appear
• The hour I first believed.
• John Newton

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William Wilberforce

• Member of British Parliament (1784-1812)
• close friend of Prime Minister William Pitt
• influenced by John Newton
• campaigned for the abolition of slavery in the
  British Empire
• Act was passed by 1833

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Amazing Grace - The Movie
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Total Impact

• 9.5 million people were moved

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Total Impact

• 9.5 million people were moved
• at least 2 million died as a result of the trade