The Triangular Trade involved three routes between Europe, Africa, and the Americas during the Atlantic Slave Trade. Ships left Europe with goods, traveled to Africa to capture or purchase slaves, transported slaves across the Atlantic to the Americas where they were sold, and returned to Europe with raw materials to complete the cycle. Over 15 million Africans were captured and sold into the slave trade that supported the economies of Europe and the colonies in the Americas until it was abolished in the 19th century.

1. The
Triangular
Trade
(Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade)

2. DEFINITION
Triangular Trade:
Trade routes
between Africa,
Europe and the
Americas during
the Atlantic Slave
Trade.
Video 

3. Spain, Portugal,
& England
 They needed slaves to work
on their plantations in South
America, the Caribbean, &
North America

4. ENGLAND
 At beginning, only a few slaves came to
English colonies.
 But when tobacco, cotton & rice
plantations grew in the colonies, slave
trade increased.
 Britain was given control over much of
slave trade  had a monopoly

5. Maps of the Triangular Trade

9. Leg One: THE OUTWARD PASSAGE
 Ships left Europe loaded with guns, tools, textiles
(manufactured goods)
 Crews with guns went ashore to capture slaves &
purchase slaves from tribal leaders.
 Slaves were obtained by:
1. Kidnapping
2. Trading
3. Tributes (gifts)
4. People in debt
5. Criminals
6. Prisoners of tribal wars

10. Goree, or Slave-Stick
 A forked branch which opens exactly to the size of a
neck so the head can't pass through it.
 The forked branch is pierced with two holes so that
an iron pin comes across the neck of the slave . . .,
so that the smallest movement is sufficient to stop
him and even to strangle him

11. Goree, or Slave-Stick

13. Forced Participation
 African Chiefs resisted in the beginning; BUT
needed weapons for defense.
 Europeans too powerful; resistance was
unsuccessful
 If chiefs did not supply slaves, they were
threatened to be taken as slaves.

15.  Slaves were held in
prisons along the west
coast of Africa.
 They were waiting to put
on slaves ships.
 Those that journeyed
from the interior and
were not fit for the ship
were left on the shores to
die

16. Fort
Elmina

17. Leg Two: THE MIDDLE PASSAGE
- Voyage from Africa to Americas
- Ships sailed across Atlantic Ocean from Africa to
Americas, carrying slaves & gold
- Journey took 5-12 weeks
- DISGUSTING CONDITIONS
- Some Africans tried to jump ship, refused to eat &
rebelled.
- Loss of slave’s life = loss of $ for sailors.

19. Leg Two: THE MIDDLE PASSAGE
 “Loose packing”: captains took fewer
slaves in hope to reduce sickness & death.
 “Tight packing”: captains carried as many
slaves as their ship could hold  many
died on voyage

24. Click picture for video

25. Leg Three: THE HOMEWARD
PASSAGE
 Africans sold at auctions in Americas
 Money from sale would buy cargo of raw
materials: cotton, sugar, spices, rum,
chocolate or tobacco.
 In Europe, converted raw materials into
finished products.

27. Auctions (don’t write down)
 There were 3 ways slaves were auctioned off:
1. Public Auctions:
- They put tar on the slaves to hide any sores
and cuts
- Slaves were inspected
- An auction to took place and the higher
bidder would get to purchase the slave.
- Bids were taken as long as an inch of a candle
burned.
- Slaves were branded
- Families were separated
- They were given a European name.

29. Auctions (don’t write down)
2. Private Auctions:
- Similar to public auctions
- They were indoors and red
markers would be placed on the
door to indicate an auction.

31. Auctions (don’t write down)
3. A Scramble:
- They would take place on the docks
or on the deck of the ship
- There would be a fixed price per
head
- Slave owners would go in and grab
who they wanted to purchase.

32. AUCTIONS
 American born slaves who had skills were most
expensive
 African born slaves were less $, as they had to be
“broken in”
 Age, sex, & skills determined cost
 Slaves with many scars considered too rebellious
 3 ways: public auction, private auction, or
scramble

33. Click for Auction Video

34. SLAVERY ABOLISHED IN
BRITISH EMPIRE
 1807 = slave trade abolished in British Empire  no
slaves carried from Africa in British ships.
 1834 = Emancipation Act: slaves under 6 yrs. old
freed; field hands over 6 worked for 6 more years;
house slaves worked 10 more years
 Britain gave 20 million pounds in compensation to
former slave owners (slaves received nothing)
 1838 all slaves given complete freedom
 Slavery in USA not abolished until 1865

35. Slave Trade Overview
Video

36. The Atlantic Slave Trade in
Two Minutes
 http://www.slate.com/articles/life/the_history_of_ameri
can_slavery/2015/06/animated_interactive_of_the_histo
ry_of_the_atlantic_slave_trade.html