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The Slave TradeThe Slave Trade

The Middle passageThe Middle passage

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The workings of the triangular The workings of the triangular tradetrade

• The transatlantic slave trade is often described as The transatlantic slave trade is often described as the triangular trade, which summarizes the the triangular trade, which summarizes the movement of goods first from Britain to West Africa, movement of goods first from Britain to West Africa, then across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas, and then across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas, and finally back to Britain. finally back to Britain.

• Copper, cloth, glassware, ammunition, guns and Copper, cloth, glassware, ammunition, guns and manila ( fibre used for rope and matting) went from manila ( fibre used for rope and matting) went from Britain to West Africa; Britain to West Africa;

• People were then transported as slaves from Africa People were then transported as slaves from Africa to the Americas. This was called the ‘to the Americas. This was called the ‘Middle Middle PassagePassage’.’.

• Finally raw sugar, rum, rice, coffee, tobacco and Finally raw sugar, rum, rice, coffee, tobacco and cotton from the plantations were then shipped from cotton from the plantations were then shipped from the Americas back to Britain. the Americas back to Britain.

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The trade triangleThe trade triangle

The Middle Passage.

Why?

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• The reason the trade was so phenomenally The reason the trade was so phenomenally profitable was that the ships were able to sail profitable was that the ships were able to sail full on each leg of the journey, maximizing full on each leg of the journey, maximizing the returns at every stage. the returns at every stage.

• However, the triangular trade concept However, the triangular trade concept oversimplifies the commercial exchanges oversimplifies the commercial exchanges involved. involved.

• The web of economic ties across the world The web of economic ties across the world made this a global enterprise.made this a global enterprise.“Three continents came to be inextricably “Three continents came to be inextricably linked in the years after the European linked in the years after the European settlement of the Americas; the money, settlement of the Americas; the money, commercial expertise and migrating instincts commercial expertise and migrating instincts of maritime Europe, the land and economic of maritime Europe, the land and economic potential of the Americas – and the peoples potential of the Americas – and the peoples of Africa.”of Africa.”

• Walvin, 2001Walvin, 2001

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Did the 'Middle Passage' deserve Did the 'Middle Passage' deserve its awful reputation?its awful reputation?

• Of all the horrors associated with the African slave Of all the horrors associated with the African slave trade it was probably the 'Middle Passage' that trade it was probably the 'Middle Passage' that caused most consternation amongst eighteenth and caused most consternation amongst eighteenth and nineteenth century reformers. During a nineteenth century reformers. During a parliamentary debate on slavery in 1791, William parliamentary debate on slavery in 1791, William Pitt, who was then the Prime Minister, said that 'Pitt, who was then the Prime Minister, said that 'the the circumstances of the Middle Passage alonecircumstances of the Middle Passage alone, , would in would in his mind, be reason enough for the Abolition.'his mind, be reason enough for the Abolition.'

• TheThe 'Middle Passage' referred to the long 'Middle Passage' referred to the long transatlantic crossing taking the enslaved Africans transatlantic crossing taking the enslaved Africans away from their homeland to work on the plantations away from their homeland to work on the plantations of the West Indies and Americas. Since it was the of the West Indies and Americas. Since it was the second of the three legs of the triangular trade it second of the three legs of the triangular trade it became known as the 'Middle Passage'.became known as the 'Middle Passage'.

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Diagram showing how slaves Diagram showing how slaves could be accommodated aboard could be accommodated aboard

a slave shipa slave ship

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Detail.Detail.

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Taken from Thomas Clarkson, Taken from Thomas Clarkson, The history The history of the rise, progress and accomplishment of the rise, progress and accomplishment of the abolition of the African slave-trade, of the abolition of the African slave-trade,

18081808. . • The committee thought that they should now The committee thought that they should now allow a certain amount of space for every allow a certain amount of space for every man, woman and child and then see how man, woman and child and then see how many people could be stowed aboard the ship. many people could be stowed aboard the ship. The space they allowed was as follows: for The space they allowed was as follows: for every male slave - six feet x one foot four every male slave - six feet x one foot four inches; for every female slave - five feet x one inches; for every female slave - five feet x one foot four inches; for every boy slave - five feet foot four inches; for every boy slave - five feet x one foot two inches; and for every girl slave x one foot two inches; and for every girl slave four feet six inches x one foot. They then tried four feet six inches x one foot. They then tried to put them on board the ship (as in the to put them on board the ship (as in the diagram) and found that they could only fit diagram) and found that they could only fit four hundred and fifty aboard. four hundred and fifty aboard.

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• The committee thought that they should ask how The committee thought that they should ask how many slaves the act of Sir William Dolben allowed this many slaves the act of Sir William Dolben allowed this ship to carry. They discovered that this Act allowed ship to carry. They discovered that this Act allowed her to carry four hundred and fifty four. This is four her to carry four hundred and fifty four. This is four more than could be put in without taking some room more than could be put in without taking some room meant for someone else. You can see from the meant for someone else. You can see from the diagram that the bodies of the slaves already touch diagram that the bodies of the slaves already touch each other and that no allowance has been made for each other and that no allowance has been made for any of the posts that support the platforms and decks.any of the posts that support the platforms and decks.

• This was the picture, which the committee were This was the picture, which the committee were obliged to draw, of the room allotted to the slaves in obliged to draw, of the room allotted to the slaves in this ship. The picture demonstrated the happy place this ship. The picture demonstrated the happy place which Mr Norris and others had invented for slaves which Mr Norris and others had invented for slaves during their transportation from their own country. during their transportation from their own country. The picture also showed the advantages of Sir William The picture also showed the advantages of Sir William Dolben's bill. Many people thought that the regulation Dolben's bill. Many people thought that the regulation itself was barbaric. The advantages it gave, however, itself was barbaric. The advantages it gave, however, were considerable. The Brookes was now restricted to were considerable. The Brookes was now restricted to four hundred and fifty slaves, whereas it had carried four hundred and fifty slaves, whereas it had carried six hundred and nine in a former voyagesix hundred and nine in a former voyage

1010

The source refers to Sir William The source refers to Sir William Dolben's Act.Dolben's Act.

• This was a law passed in 1788 which This was a law passed in 1788 which restricted the number of slaves that could be restricted the number of slaves that could be carried aboard a ship according to its weight. carried aboard a ship according to its weight. Dolben (who was the MP for Oxford Dolben (who was the MP for Oxford University and an abolitionist) hoped that the University and an abolitionist) hoped that the law would improve conditions for slaves on law would improve conditions for slaves on the Middle Passage. As the source explains, the Middle Passage. As the source explains, Dolben's Act meant that the Dolben's Act meant that the BrookesBrookes could could now only carry 450 slaves - a reduction of now only carry 450 slaves - a reduction of over 150 from the number that had been over 150 from the number that had been carried in the past. carried in the past.

1111

Things to consider 1 ...Things to consider 1 ...• Do you think that the space allowance made Do you think that the space allowance made

for each man, woman and child is sufficient? for each man, woman and child is sufficient?

• What does the report say hasn't been taken What does the report say hasn't been taken into consideration when showing the layout of into consideration when showing the layout of slaves? What impact would this have on living slaves? What impact would this have on living conditions?conditions?

• Does William Dolben's Act seem like a good Does William Dolben's Act seem like a good thing or a bad thing? Why?thing or a bad thing? Why?

• The illustration of the slave ship was used as The illustration of the slave ship was used as propaganda by the Society for the Abolition of propaganda by the Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade. Do you think it would have the Slave Trade. Do you think it would have worked? What impact do you think it would worked? What impact do you think it would have made?have made?

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1313

A slave's description of life A slave's description of life aboard a slave ship.aboard a slave ship.

• Soon after this, the blacks who brought me on Soon after this, the blacks who brought me on board went back ashore and left me in despair. board went back ashore and left me in despair.

• I now saw that I had no chance of returning to I now saw that I had no chance of returning to my native country or any hope of reaching the my native country or any hope of reaching the shore. shore.

• I even wished for my former slavery rather I even wished for my former slavery rather than being in this situation, which seemed than being in this situation, which seemed even worse because I did not know what was even worse because I did not know what was going to happen to me. going to happen to me.

• I was not allowed to indulge my grief for very I was not allowed to indulge my grief for very long. I was soon put down under the decks. long. I was soon put down under the decks. The smell was so bad that, together with the The smell was so bad that, together with the crying, I felt so ill that I could not eat. crying, I felt so ill that I could not eat.

1414

A slave's description of life A slave's description of life aboard a slave ship by Equianoaboard a slave ship by Equiano

• But soon, to my grief, two of the white men offered But soon, to my grief, two of the white men offered me something to eat. me something to eat.

• When I refused, one of them held me by the hands, When I refused, one of them held me by the hands, laid me across the windlass and tied my feet together, laid me across the windlass and tied my feet together, while the other flogged me severely. while the other flogged me severely.

• I had never experienced anything like this before and, I had never experienced anything like this before and, although I was scared of the water, if I could have got although I was scared of the water, if I could have got over the nettings I would have jumped overboard. over the nettings I would have jumped overboard.

• But I could not, and, besides, the crew used to watch But I could not, and, besides, the crew used to watch those of us who were not chained to the decks very those of us who were not chained to the decks very closely in case we leapt into the water. closely in case we leapt into the water.

• I have seen some of the poor African prisoners very I have seen some of the poor African prisoners very badly whipped for trying to jump and hourly whipped badly whipped for trying to jump and hourly whipped for not eating. for not eating.

1515

A slave's description of life A slave's description of life aboard a slave ship by Equianoaboard a slave ship by Equiano

• I soon found, amongst the poor chained men, some I soon found, amongst the poor chained men, some of my own nation, which helped a little bit. of my own nation, which helped a little bit.

• I asked them what would happen to us and they told I asked them what would happen to us and they told men that we were to be carried to the white people's men that we were to be carried to the white people's country to work for them. I felt a little better and country to work for them. I felt a little better and thought that if was to be no worse than working then thought that if was to be no worse than working then my situation was not as bad as it could be. my situation was not as bad as it could be.

• But I was still afraid that I would be killed. The white But I was still afraid that I would be killed. The white people looked and acted in such a savage manner - I people looked and acted in such a savage manner - I had never seen such cruel and brutal behaviour. This had never seen such cruel and brutal behaviour. This was not only towards us blacks but also to some of was not only towards us blacks but also to some of the whites themselves. When we were on deck once, the whites themselves. When we were on deck once, I saw a white man flogged so badly that he died and I saw a white man flogged so badly that he died and they tossed his body over the side as they would they tossed his body over the side as they would have done a brute. have done a brute.

1616

Things to consider 2 Things to consider 2 ….….

• Make a list of the things Make a list of the things that Equiano says that Equiano says frightened him.frightened him.

• Equiano was Equiano was approximately 10 or 11 approximately 10 or 11 years of age when he was years of age when he was enslaved. Did his age enslaved. Did his age have any impact on the have any impact on the way he was treated? way he was treated?

• How would you have felt if How would you have felt if you were in his situation?you were in his situation?

• What impression does What impression does Equiano give of life on Equiano give of life on board?board?

Olaudah Equiano was one of the most prominent people of African heritage in the British debate for the abolition of slavery. A former slave himself, he managed to buy his freedom and work as a seaman, merchant and explorer before writing an autobiography depicting the horrors of slavery.

1717

Evidence of Mr Knox, a captain, Evidence of Mr Knox, a captain, describing conditions on board a describing conditions on board a

slave ship.slave ship.• Slaves on board are, most assuredly, treated Slaves on board are, most assuredly, treated

humanely. Rice is a principal article of their humanely. Rice is a principal article of their food on the Windward Coast, also cassava, food on the Windward Coast, also cassava, palm-oil, many glutinous herbs, pepper; on the palm-oil, many glutinous herbs, pepper; on the coast often fish. When rice enough cannot be coast often fish. When rice enough cannot be got, ships carry out beans and stock-fish; and got, ships carry out beans and stock-fish; and from Africa, palm-oil, pepper, sheep, goats, from Africa, palm-oil, pepper, sheep, goats, fowl. The beans are generally split, but has fowl. The beans are generally split, but has seen them otherwise. Never knew slaves on seen them otherwise. Never knew slaves on board without plenty of food. It is also the sole board without plenty of food. It is also the sole employment of the officers to serve them.employment of the officers to serve them.

1818

Evidence of Mr Knox, a captain, Evidence of Mr Knox, a captain, describing conditions on board a describing conditions on board a

slave ship.slave ship.• In most ships you may stand upright under In most ships you may stand upright under

the gratings, in others all over the ship. In the gratings, in others all over the ship. In very small ships often not above four feet. very small ships often not above four feet. His ship 5 feet 10 inches, under the gratings His ship 5 feet 10 inches, under the gratings 6 feet 10 inches, with platforms all round 6 feet 10 inches, with platforms all round nearly in the middle between the decks, nearly in the middle between the decks, about 2 feet 11 inches each, quite full of about 2 feet 11 inches each, quite full of slaves.slaves.

• Slaves who speak the same language are Slaves who speak the same language are chained together. Recollects not an instance chained together. Recollects not an instance to the contrary to the contrary

• Never saw it necessary to force the slaves to Never saw it necessary to force the slaves to dance. dance. 

1919

Things to consider 3...Things to consider 3...

• Knox describes conditions aboard a slave Knox describes conditions aboard a slave ship. ship.

• How does his account compare to the How does his account compare to the accounts given in the other sources? accounts given in the other sources? – the headers of food and diet, the headers of food and diet, – space and living conditions, space and living conditions, – and treatment of the slaves to help structure your and treatment of the slaves to help structure your

answer.answer.

• Do you think Knox's description of life aboard Do you think Knox's description of life aboard a slave ship is accurate?a slave ship is accurate?

• Would there be any reason for Knox to Would there be any reason for Knox to exaggerate or not tell the truth?exaggerate or not tell the truth?

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