zuai-logo

The Slave Trade

Benjamin Wright

Benjamin Wright

7 min read

Listen to this study note

Study Guide Overview

This study guide covers the Atlantic Slave Trade, focusing on its genesis (labor shortages, African conflicts), the Triangular Trade system (Europe, Africa, Americas), the horrific Middle Passage, life under slavery, and the abolition movement and its legacy. Key terms include Middle Passage, Triangular Trade, and abolition. It also provides practice questions (multiple-choice, short-answer, and free-response) and exam tips.

AP European History: The Atlantic Slave Trade - Your Ultimate Guide 🚢

Hey there, future AP Euro master! Let's break down the complexities of the Atlantic Slave Trade with a guide that's both comprehensive and easy to digest. Get ready to ace that exam!

1. The Genesis of the Slave Trade

1.1. Why the Surge? 📈

  • Labor Shortage: The demand for labor in the Americas skyrocketed due to:

    • Decline in Native American populations (disease, conflict).
    • Decrease in indentured servants.
    • Increased demand for plantation crops (sugar, tobacco, coffee).

  • Internal African Conflicts:

    • Africans captured other Africans during internal conflicts.
    • These captives were traded to Europeans for goods like guns, pottery, and food. 💡
Key Concept

European demand for plantation labor + African internal conflicts = exponential growth of the slave trade

  • Early Arrival:
    • First slaves arrived in North America in 1619. * Slavery was established earlier in the West Indies and Brazil.
Memory Aid

Think of the 3 D's: Demand for labor, Decline of Native Americans, Disputes in Africa.

markdown-image

Image Courtesy of Britannica
Practice Question

Multiple Choice:

  1. Which of the following factors contributed most significantly to the expansion of the transatlantic slave trade in the 17th and 18th centuries? (A) The decline in the availability of indentured servants (B) The increased demand for luxury goods in Europe (C) The end of feudalism in Europe (D) The rise of industrial production in Africa

  2. The transatlantic slave trade had the most direct impact on which of the following regions? (A) Western Europe and the Mediterranean (B) East Asia and Southeast Asia (C) West Africa and the Americas (D) Eastern ...

Previous Topic - Columbian ExchangeNext Topic - The Commercial Revolution

Question 1 of 11

What was a major cause for the increased demand for labor in the Americas? 🤔

Decreased European population

Decline in Native American population

Increased European migration to Africa

Rise of industrial production in Europe