Slavery Flashcards
When did Britain’s role in the Atlantic slave trade begin?
1600s
Where was the slave trade triangle established
between England, the African coast and the West Indies (Caribbean) / America
Why was the slave trade established
Goods were shipped to Africa to be traded for slaves, who were then taken across the Atlantic and sold, the ships then returned to England carrying goods bought in the Americas
Why were the conditions in the middle passage whilst slaves were transported to the West Indies and America harsh?
The heat (and the overcrowding) almost suffocated the people. The air became unfit to breathe and brought on a sickness among the slaves. Many died.
The ship had way more people than it was meant to fit. People were chained and stacked on top of each-other.
Those who wouldn’t eat were punished. One captain poured molten lead on slaves, while another captain burnt slaves’ lips by placing shovels of hot coals close to their mouths.
What happened once the slaving ships had docked in the Caribbean or America
The slaves were prepared for sale
What were the two types of sale
auction where the highest bidder won and a scramble
where slave owners grabbed who they wanted for a set price
What work did the enslave people have to do on the plantation
continued their harsh existence, as growing sugar was gruelling work.
Gangs of enslaved people, consisting of men, women, children and the elderly worked from dawn until dusk under the orders of a white overseer
How were the slaves days planned out?
Arriving for work at dawn, enslaved people only stopped for rest and food at breakfast and lunchtime, after which they worked until nightfall.
After returning to their living quarters, they would often still have chores to do before going to bed
What happened to the enslaved people when they didn’t work hard enough?
Enslaved people were whipped
How long did enslaved people have to work for during harvest times?
Shifts of up to 18 hours a day
What work did girls have to do
Girls worked on estates from the early age of four.
Occupations for girls between the ages of 12 and 19 varied from field work and stock work, to domestic duties.
Mature women often worked as midwives, nurses or housekeepers.
In Jamaica where were the majority of women’s working
women between the ages of 19 and 54 were working in the field
Where did enslaved people live on the plantations?
enslaved people lived in small cottages with thatched roofs. The cottages often had earthen floors and were furnished with only a bed, table and bench.
Who had control over the lives of the enslaved people and how did they treat them
White masters had complete control over the lives of enslaved people and treated them like mere property.
How did the plantation owners treat the enslaved people
As enslaved people had no rights, plantation owners were free to act as dictators. Enslaved people who disobeyed or resisted even in small ways were violently punished - in Antigua it was not a crime to kill am enslaved people until 1723.
