Slave Trade Flashcards
(13 cards)
What types of resistance did slaves do on the plantation?
-Work very slowly, but they would usually get punished for this.
-Trying to run away or help others escape.
-Pretending not to understand so they wouldn’t have to work.
-Learning to read and write which gave them knowledge about their rights.
-Leading a violent revolt. Sometimes killing their owners.
What were the punishments on a plantation?
-Whipping (most common)
-Iron Collar which was impossible for slaves to sleep lying down.
-Female slaves were abused by plantation owners.
-A hot Iron
-Executed as an example to other slaves. This usually happened when a slave killed a white person.
Why was resistance difficult on a plantation?
-If slaves escaped, it was difficult to remain hidden as there were rewards advertised for their return. This meant bounty hunters were sent to recapture them and they struggles to avoid it.
-Violent slaves were whipped, had limbs amputated or executed. These harsh punishments served as a warning to other slaves thinking about resistance.
-Slaves would only have basic weapons like clubs whereas plantation owners has guns. This meant slaves couldn’t defeat the superior weapons of their owners.
-Slaves that have escaped could easily be identified by the colour of their skin, brandings on their skin or lack of legal papers. This meant they were forced back into slavery and found it hard to evade capture.
-Slaves were brainwashed into accepting plantation life. Many were also born into slavery so knew no other way of life.
-Many slaves were too weak to resist as they usually worked long hours in terrible conditions.
-Many slaves were scared that if they resisted their families would get split up and sold at an auction, never seeing each other again.
What were the conditions onboard the Middle Passage?
– Tight packing.
– Slaves had to lie on their own and others body waste which spreads disease.
– Female slaves suffered sexual abuse from the crew.
– Food was limited and unfamiliar.
– Slaves were punished by whipping, thumbscrews or death if they did not follow rules.
–Were taken on deck to exercise and made to ‘dance’ for the crews amuse.
What is Tight packing?
When slaves are chained very close together. This caused higher death rates but more profit with more slaves on board the ship.
How long would a field slave last in these terrible conditions?
Only 7-9 years.
What tribe would enslave people and why?
The Ashanti tribe enslaved people that broke laws.
What happens after slaves were captured?
They were made to March for many days. Some died of exhaustion and those who were too weak were left to die by the side of the road.
Why did Europeans not capture Africans?
Europeans we are too afraid to venture too far and catch a disease and resistance from African tribes.
Why was it easy for Africans to capture slaves?
They often had access to better European weapons like guns.
What were the conditions in slave factories?
– Dungeons and factories were overcrowded meaning unhealthy diseases like malaria were common.
– Slaves were examined by a surgeon when they arrived to test their fitness and health.
-Many slaves were branded with a hot iron to show what company they belong to, that’s also ensured slaves were not swapped.
– Slaves were made to stay in underground cells which had a little light and not much sanitary provision.
Who captured the slaves?
African middle-men
What were the conditions like in the boiling house?
The heat was extremely intense and the smell was revolting. Slaves could only work for four hours at a time. Their arms and legs swelled up in the hot, damp atmosphere.
