Slave+Trade


 * [[image:http://www.amren.com/ar/2007/07/13a--slave-auction-no.jpg]]

Slavery in the American Colonies: The Slave Trade:**


 * Slave Auctions/Auction Blocks**

In the middle of the seventeenth century, when more and more plantations sprouted up to grow crops, slave labor became more popular. Since it was about the least expensive form of labor, it was highly desired. As a result, the Royal African Company was established. It brought an average of 5,000 slaves a year across the Atlantic from Africa. This was the first successful large-scale business that sold and transported slaves. Some merchants had been bringing African Americans to the continent in the 1600's. They were sometimes traded for food or other items like beads. The price for an African American male was around the equivalent of 27 dollars. When the African Americans arrived at the port where they were to be sold, they were checked by their purchasers, and then they were distributed to plantations. Many of them arrived with family members, and at this point, most of them were separated. As slaves went into auctions, they knew very little about their futures. They could not be sure that their families would stay together or that they would be sold to kind or forgiving masters. At the auctions, potential buyers were given the chance to look over the slaves to see how well they would be able to do work. Then, the buyers gathered around the platform. Buyers shouted out bids, and the slaves were sold to whoever was willing to pay the highest. After the humiliating auctions, slaves went to work for their new masters.


 * Slave Markets**

As slavery's popularity increased in the 1700's, slave markets also became more numerous. People who wanted to buy and sell slaves came together to trade in slave markets. In the markets, it was common to see slave auctions. These were when slaves were offered to be sold to whoever was willing to pay the most. Before the auctions, the people who wanted to buy the slaves could look at the slaves and see which ones they thought would do the best work. Then, they bid on their favorite slaves. In the markets, slaves were threatened with whips in order for them to be on their best behavior and not run away. Some slaves were even handcuffed or chained. Sometimes, before being sold, slaves even had to stay in warehouses. When slaves were to be sold at slave markets, they did not know what would happen to them. One of the worst possibilities was for them to be sold away from their families. But, they could not control whether or not the same person would buy them and their family members. Another fear of the slaves was that they would be sold to cruel or mean masters. Some slave were sold to kind masters, but other masters were took advantage of the slaves. So, a slave market was never a happy scene.


 * The Growth of Slavery in the 1800's:

Slave Trade**

In the seventeenth century, as more and more people came to America, more farms were started. Slavery was seen as an inexpensive way to grow crops and get work done. So, merchants made money by bringing people from Africa and selling them to colonists in North America. This became known as the slave trade. People captured from Africa were also sold in the West Indies. Traders sold slaves to buyers in exchange for products such as sugar and cotton, which the slaves produced. Then, these products were taken to Europe and traded for manufactured goods such as weapons. These were traded in Africa, and slaves were again brought to the Americas. This triangular path was called the Triangular Trade. In the American colonies, slaves were sold in slave auctions and slave markets. In the auctions, anyone who wanted to buy the slaves was allowed to look over the slaves to see which ones they wanted to buy. Then, whoever offered the highest price for the slaves bought them. Slave auctions were sometimes very sad for the slaves if they were sold to different owners than the rest of their families. Sometimes, the last time slaves saw family members was when they were sold at the auctions. Because of this, slaves were scared to be sold. Another reason they did not want to be sold was because they did not know if their new owners would be kind or not. Some slaves were lucky and were sold to forgiving masters, but some slaves were not. At slave markets, it was common to see masters that were selling slaves holding whips. Sometimes, the slaves even wore handcuffs. Slaves did not have any control over the slave trade. All they could do was hope.


 * Midwest Passage**

In order to travel from Africa to the Americas, slaves had to undergo a horrifying voyage. In Africa, people were either captured or sold to slave traders. Often, the traders payed the tribes items such as glass beads or guns in exchange for captives to be sold as slaves. Once they were in the merchants' possession, they were transported to the coastal ports. There, they would sometimes have to wait long periods of time in barracks. Eventually, once there were enough slaves ready to be loaded onto the ships, slaves, were crammed onto the ships, and the ships set sail. Usually, these ships headed for the West Indies. The journey across the Atlantic was called the Middle Passage.