To What Extent Did Britain Influence the Atlantic Slave Trade from the 16th Century Onwards?
To What Extent Did Britain
Influence the Atlantic Slave
Trade from the 16th Century Onwards?
The Atlantic Slave Trade was a barbaric infringement of human rights. It was the transportation of Africans, from the east coast of Africa, across the Atlantic to the Americas' against their will. These Africans were traded by their tribal chiefs', hunted for by Europeans' or captured in battle. They were forced to work for their master, being either brought by slave traders or working for their enemy. Britain became involved in the slave trade for profit during the early 1500s'. The slave trade was abolished in Britain by an Act of Parliament on 25th March 1807.1 It was not until 1838 that all slaves were freed in British possessions.2 This essay will outline the major points that Britain's influences' had on the Atlantic Slave Trade.
A slave is a person who is held in bondage to another. A slave can be bought, sold, exchanged and lent to others. They had no rights of their own, no freedom of movement, and most importantly no legal protection. Even offspring that was born to slaves became the property of their masters. When economics dictated, slave families would be sold to the highest bidders, often resulting in entire families being split up. Slavery has been around for thousands of years and even though it has been abolished in the modern world, some forms of slavery still exist today. The Japanese for example believe that a defeated warrior has no rights, and during the 2nd World War practiced slavery in its' crudest form by putting p.o.w.s' to work, building railways etc. Britain entered the slave trade in the later half of the 16th century and perfected the Atlantic slave system during the 18th century.3
The first British slave trader sailed in 1562. John Hawkins and his fleet of three ships captured three hundred Africans in Sierra Leone.4 He returned to Britain a year later showing a considerable profit on his round trip. In the early days of slave trading Africans were generally captured by raiding parties sent ashore by their captains. However this actually proved to have adverse effects on the local populations. It was quickly realised that the solution lay in trading goods with the locals in return for slaves. It was the introduction of sugar cane by Columbus on his second voyage5 that actually caused the Slave trade to take off. As the growth of sugar cane spread throughout South America, cheap labour was needed to grow and harvest it. The local populations declined due to western disease, and Africans were shipped in as an alternative labour. The British Caribbean quickly converted to the growing of sugar cane as the demand for sugar in Britain grew, and with it the demand for labour also grew.
Influence the Atlantic Slave
Trade from the 16th Century Onwards?
The Atlantic Slave Trade was a barbaric infringement of human rights. It was the transportation of Africans, from the east coast of Africa, across the Atlantic to the Americas' against their will. These Africans were traded by their tribal chiefs', hunted for by Europeans' or captured in battle. They were forced to work for their master, being either brought by slave traders or working for their enemy. Britain became involved in the slave trade for profit during the early 1500s'. The slave trade was abolished in Britain by an Act of Parliament on 25th March 1807.1 It was not until 1838 that all slaves were freed in British possessions.2 This essay will outline the major points that Britain's influences' had on the Atlantic Slave Trade.
A slave is a person who is held in bondage to another. A slave can be bought, sold, exchanged and lent to others. They had no rights of their own, no freedom of movement, and most importantly no legal protection. Even offspring that was born to slaves became the property of their masters. When economics dictated, slave families would be sold to the highest bidders, often resulting in entire families being split up. Slavery has been around for thousands of years and even though it has been abolished in the modern world, some forms of slavery still exist today. The Japanese for example believe that a defeated warrior has no rights, and during the 2nd World War practiced slavery in its' crudest form by putting p.o.w.s' to work, building railways etc. Britain entered the slave trade in the later half of the 16th century and perfected the Atlantic slave system during the 18th century.3
The first British slave trader sailed in 1562. John Hawkins and his fleet of three ships captured three hundred Africans in Sierra Leone.4 He returned to Britain a year later showing a considerable profit on his round trip. In the early days of slave trading Africans were generally captured by raiding parties sent ashore by their captains. However this actually proved to have adverse effects on the local populations. It was quickly realised that the solution lay in trading goods with the locals in return for slaves. It was the introduction of sugar cane by Columbus on his second voyage5 that actually caused the Slave trade to take off. As the growth of sugar cane spread throughout South America, cheap labour was needed to grow and harvest it. The local populations declined due to western disease, and Africans were shipped in as an alternative labour. The British Caribbean quickly converted to the growing of sugar cane as the demand for sugar in Britain grew, and with it the demand for labour also grew.
