How Slaves Were Captured And Transported Flashcards
(17 cards)
What were the main reasons people became slaves?
Slaves were usually criminals, people who owed money, prisoners of war, or people accused of witchcraft.
What goods were slaves traded for?
Slaves were traded for goods like guns, iron, alcohol, pots, beads, and cloth.
How were slaves captured and transported?
Slaves were chained together around the neck and forced to walk hundreds of kilometers, suffering and dying in ‘death marches.’
What facilities did slave traders build?
Slave traders built coastal forts where slaves could be held until the slave ships arrived.
What happened to slaves upon arrival on the ship?
Slaves were put on board the slave ship, chained together.
What were the conditions like on slave ships?
Conditions on ships were terrible: overcrowded, with little food and space to sleep. Many died on the voyage.
What happened to slaves when ships arrived in America?
When ships arrived in America, slaves were taken ashore and inspected by buyers.
What did buyers examine in slaves?
Buyers examined the slaves’ teeth and eyes to see if they were healthy.
What happened to slaves after inspection?
Slaves were put in slave quarters until they were auctioned off.
How were slaves auctioned?
Slaves were auctioned like cattle, with young, pretty, and healthy slaves fetching high prices.
What happened to families of slaves?
Slaves were separated from their families, and the owner’s initials would be burnt onto the slave’s skin with a red hot iron.
What was the fate of slaves after being auctioned?
Slaves were taken to the new owner’s plantation to start work.
How many slaves were taken to America between 1619 and 1856?
Approximately 12 million slaves were taken to America between 1619 and 1856.
How many slaves died during the journey from West Africa to America?
About 2 million slaves died due to lack of food during the long journey from West Africa to America.
What did slave traders do to make slaves more appealing?
The slave traders would rub fat all over their bodies to make their skins shine.
What types of slaves fetched high prices?
Young, strong, or pretty slaves fetched high prices, and slaves with skills sold very well.
What was the overall purpose of the slave trade?
The slave trade was all about exploiting people for money: tribal chiefs exchanged their people for products, and traders sold slaves for a lot of money, providing cheap labor for new owners.
