Beginnings of the Slave Trade
History: KS3, topic 9.1.1
Beginnings of the Slave Trade
The slave trade began in the 15th century. It dominated the world for centuries. Slaves were captured by slave traders and sold, or captured by local people before being sold to slave traders.
Portugal and slavery
- Portuguese traders began the slave trade in the 15th century.
- The traders took slaves from West Africa to newly conquered colonies in the Americas.
Britain and slavery
- Britain conquered areas such as Barbados and Jamaica in the 15th century.
- In 1672, the Royal African Company was established.
- This was responsible for organising the trade between African slaves and plantation (an area of land where crops are grown) owners.
The Treaty of Utrecht
- After the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, British involvement in the slave trade increased.
- The treaty allowed slaves to be sold by the British to the Spanish Empire.
- Between 1640 and 1807, when the slave trade was officially abolished, 3.1 million slaves are estimated to have been traded through British colonies. Slaves were crammed onto ships in inhumane conditions and between 10% and 20% are thought to have died on the journey alone.
The need for slaves in the Americas
- In the South of the USA, the crops that were grown were very labour intensive (tobacco, sugar, and indigo).
- Eventually, the supply of indentured servants was insufficient to meet the demand, and these workers only served for periods of three to seven years.
- A more permanent labor supply was needed: African slaves.
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What was established in 1672?