Arguments For And Against Slavery (Transatlantic Slave Trade) - table

are allowed to dish out what they believe to be appropriate punishments for even the smallest mistake. The slaves are punished with whips, floggers, cat o’ nines, paddles. However, the worst punishment considered by the slaves was to be sold away from family and their loved ones. The more serious the crime, the more severe the punishment is.http://hrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca/mwebb/Origins%20of%20the%20Transatlantic%20Slave%20Trade.htm*great source of income - Slave owners and merchants were paid well with gold and other forms of payments in return for slaves. This was how some English families were able to live luxurious, comfortable lives.People in every section of British society benefitted from the slave trade. Cities like Liverpool & Bristol developed their city on money made from the slave trade. The Royal African Company, which was set up by the Stuart Family, would trade a slave for £3, then have that person traded for £20. They were able to make an average of 38% profit for every voyage. Individuals were also able to make large sums of money. Thomas Leyland, a merchant, made a profit of £12,000 (£1m today) on his voyage in 1798. (The Economic Basis of the Slave Trade by Dr. Alan Rice - http://www.revealinghistories.org.uk/how-did-money-from-slavery-help-develop-greater-manchester/articles/the-economic-basis-of-the-slave-trade.html)*child-slaves deprived of proper childhood & family - Many young children are deprived of a proper childhood and family as they were separated from parents or family members.George Fleming, South Carolina- "Slaves started to work by de time dey was old enough to tote water and pick up chips to start fires wid. Some of dem started to work in de fields when dey about ten, but most of 'em was older." (http://newdeal.feri.org/asn/asn00.htm)Children started labour as early as 3 or 4. By age 7, over 40% of boys and half the girls had started labour. Boys typically transfer to adult field jobs at the age of 11. http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/historyonline/slav_fact.cfm*resources- The slave trade provides the English with many resources and raw materials which may then be made into high-demand products, such as certain equipment, food (sugar) and many other luxuries.Without the raw materials the slaves harvested, many luxuries could not be made, such as rum, as it would need sugar to be made. Rum is only one of the many new foods and drinks that were created. At first, only the higher classes were able to afford these luxuries, but as the imports from the West Indies started increasing, they quickly became an essential part of the typical British household.  (http://www.revealinghistories.org.uk/smoking-drinking-and-the-british-sweet-tooth.html)*hard journey to the Americas-Slaves were typically locked up on board under the decks for up to 56 days. Sometimes there were approximately 350-600 slaves on a ship. The male captives were normally chained together by their legs whilst the women and children had somewhat more room. They were crammed into spaces sometimes less than 5 feet high. Approximately 250,000 slaves died on the middle passage, some from diseases and some from suicide. http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=68(24/11)http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=68 (30/11)*slave money was used to help small towns to develop into metropolitan citiesLondon Road, Old Market Street and The Manchester Town Hall was built on slave money. Slave money not only improved town conditions but also helped developed them.*impact on African population - It was estimated that at least 11-12 million Africans were carried across the Atlantic to work though the numbers are highly controversial. Some estimates that approximately 25 out of 100 slaves died on the voyages.http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/articles/ushistory/triangulartrade.htm*slavery was not a new concept to the Africans“Slavery was also a traditional part of African society -- various states and kingdoms in Africa operated one or more of the following: chattel slavery, debt bondage, forced labor, and serfdom.” - http://africanhistory.about.com/od/slavery/tp/TransAtlantic001.htm (30/11)The Africans were already familiar with slavery and serving labour in Europe was no different than being a slave in Africa.*overpopulation of slavesOn Tobago there were 20 slaves for every white person. It would have been catastrophic if riots happened. There would have been a big chance they would have been able to overpower their owners.*experienceDeveloping European empires lacked a work force. Africans, however, had experience of agriculture and keeping cattle. They were used to tropical climaes and were resistant to tropical diseases. *no free will, no futureSlaves were often though to be unintelligent and uncivilized. Yet they managed to create such flourishing empires such as the Ghanaian empire of the 12th century and the underground railroad, which was a secret network created and helped over 70,000 to escape from slavery.. Another example was Olaudah Equiano. He was set free by his owner, then went on to write best-selling autobiographies. This is just proof that not all slaves are dumb, they just never had the chance to develop their abilities as they never had the chance to be educated.*high productivity rate - The African workers could work many hours without tiring. They were strong and hard-working. They had experience from working in Africa so they were worth investing in.*little food supply - Pregnant women, if not fired, would not be given extra food rations.Half of all babies born to slaves died within their first year. They were tiny and sometimes weighed less than 5.5 pounds.http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/historyonline/slav_fact.cfm*treated well - Contrary to many people’s beliefs, the slaves are well fed, have access to medical care and are generously provided with clothing and housing. They needed to be kept healthy as healthy slaves were more valuable as they were able to work.Slave owners/plantation owner: “Contrary to the propaganda of the anti-slavers, most slaves are very happy....provided with a house and clothing..when they are sick they see a doctor..”*bad housing - Slaves lived in small houses called ‘baracoons’ which were generally 1mx1m and scarcely furnished.Alice Alexander: "We lived in a one room log hut, and slept on homemade rail bed steads wid cotton, an' sum times straw, mos'ly straw summers an' cotton winners." (http://newdeal.feri.org/asn/asn00.htm)*religion- Christianity is the only way to heaven and the English are doing the slaves a favour by giving them the opportunity to let them convert to Christianity through the work of missionaries and the influence of others around them, which will then lead into a better afterlife.Converting slaves to Christianity was a way to get them to have something in common with their owner, thus reducing the chance of them trying to rebel. By 1860, 15% of slaves were members of churches. (http://cghs.dadeschools.net/slavery/antebellum_slavery/plantation_slave_life/diet_religion/religion.htm) (30/11)*little freedom - The slaves did not have much freedom.*able to control slaves- People argued that if the African slaves were freed, they would rebel and there would be chaos.On Tobago there were 20 slaves for every white person. It would be hard for the English to control the slaves. There would be riots and disorder, killings and anarchy.