The Impact of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade on Economies: The Negative Impact on West Africa

Question 1

66. In general, did slavery affect the economic growth and development of West Africa? If so, how (was it good or bad)?

Answer 1

Yes - Slavery had a disastrous (bad) effect on the economic growth and development of West Africa.

Question 2

67. How did slavery affect how Africans were seen in the rest of the world?

Answer 2

The rest of the world began to see Africans as inferior and caused racism towards them.

Question 3

68. Name 6 negative ways that the slave trade affected West Africa.

Taken away, Suffering, Disruptions, Skills, Kings, Young

Key words:

Answer 3

The 6 ways that Slavery Affected West Africa:

1. A large number (12 million slaves) were taken away from their families and communities as slaves.
2. Slavery and the slave trade caused significant human suffering.
3. Societies were** disrupted** and there was social instability. It had a negative impact on economic development in West Africa.
4. Skills that were passed down from generation to generation were not passed down when the person who taught the skills was sold into slavery. This slowed economic growth.
5. **African Kings and royal families **became very rich by capturing and selling slaves as they **received taxes **for selling them. They also fought wars by starting wars with other kings to get slaves to sell. This caused the rich to become richer while the poor became poorer.
6. Big sections of the African continent lost a lot of their youngest and strongest people. Therefore there weren’t enough healthy and able people to do the farming.

Question 4

69. European colonists took over African societies. How did the Europeans affect the African’s agricultural/farming practices negatively?

Answer 4

They forced them to grow crops such as coffee that could be sold in Britain rather than foods that they normally would grow to survive.

Question 5

70. Did Africa become reliant on trade with Europe?
    * Who in Africa benefitted from this trade?
    * What happened when the slave trade ended (how did it affect African economies)?

Answer 5

• Yes, Africa became very reliant on trade with Europe.
• A few powerful people who ruled benefitted but not the majority of Africans.
• When the slave trade ended, some economies in Africa found it hard to buy the goods they needed and relied on from Europe.

Question 6

71. Why did Africa become poorer and poorer after the slave trade ended? What had happened to the traditional ways of growing crops and trading in Africa?

Answer 6

• The traditional ways of growing crops and trading had been destroyed.
• This caused the continent to become poorer and poorer.