Introduction to the Atlantic Slave Trade.

1. Why did slavery start?/What
was the triangular trade?

2. Today’s lesson
We are developing our knowledge of the triangular trade
that developed across the 17th and 18th century
Today will be able to:
1) Explain the reasons why slavery started.
2) Explain why Slavery is sometimes known as the Triangular trade.
Today’s lesson will involve:
1) Note taking
2) Diagram task
3) National 5 Question

3. Task 1 – Think, Pair, Write, Check
THINK (By yourself for 30 seconds) – What is Slavery?
PAIR (For 30 seconds) – Share your ideas with your partner.
WRITE – Write down a definition of Slavery in your jotter
CHECK – Check your definition against the definition on the board.
Slavery is someone who is treated like property and receive no
benefit or chance of escaping their employer.. Slavery relies
heavily on the enslaved person being intimidated either by the
threat of violence or some other method of abuse.

4. The Atlantic Slave Trade
The Atlantic Slave Trade was a trade that
involved the transportation of many
enslaved African people from their home
in Africa to America and the Caribbean.
It took place mainly in the 17th and 18th
centuries.
Millions of people in the Americas and the
West Indies can trace their roots back to
America because of slavery. This means
that their ancestors were kidnapped and
taken there as slaves.

5. Why did Slavery take place?
Sugar is one of the key reasons why the slave trade took
place.
Sugar was increasingly popular but also expensive and
difficult to grow, much of it could only be grown in the
Caribbean.
The Spanish were the first to arrive in the Americas and
grow sugar.
At first sugar was grown by three separate groups:
1. Arawak natives: These were native Americans who
grew sugar but died out due to European diseases.
2. Bond servants: People who paid off their debts by
working as slaves for 4-7 years.
3. Convicts and prisoners.
Why might they
have used Convicts
and prisoners to
grow sugar?

6. Use of Africans as slaves
The first three groups were not a large enough
workforce to keep up with demand for sugar.
Some European countries, such as Britain had
Africa colonies. Enslaved Africans were then
snatched by ships to grow sugar in the Americas.
In time, they also grew other products.
There were many advantages to using Africans
as slaves. Slavery already existed in Africa so
there were a large amount of enslaved Africans
available.
Also Africans were less likely to die of European
diseases such as Cholera.

7. The Triangular Trade
Copy this diagram into your jotter and complete the National 5
question below:
The Americas
Europe
Africa
STAGE 1
Trade good such as guns were
taken by Europeans to Africa
STAGE 2
Slaves were taken
from Africa to the
Americas.
STAGE 3
Goods produced by slaves
were taken to Europe to be
sold
NATIONAL 5 QUESTION
Describe the different stages of the
Triangular trade – 4 marks.