The Rise And Fall Of The Slave Trade

Julianna S.

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The Rise And Fall Of The Slave Trade

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One of humanities most shameful and horrific periods, is the time of the transatlantic slave trade. This system of transporting human captives and agricultural goods to Europe and the Americas started on a small scale, and rapidly grew to catastrophic proportions. Originally, the slaves were transported on small vessels, and taken by the same people who would act as the owner. But, the demand for labor in the European Colonies grew. Such high demands for slaves caused greater amounts of Africans to be captured and called for a more major mode of transportation. Thus equals the birth of the slave ships. Slave ships are unanimously regarded as mortifyingly inhumane vessels. The captains of such ships had complete freedom to commit the most horrific acts to the Africans and subject them to the most vial situations, because the Africans had no one to defend them or their rights. Many lives were lost due to disease and neglect during the voyages alone. Eventually, this crime against humanity was recognized as such; at least by some.

Historical record of contact between Europeans and the peoples who would later be referred to as ?Africans? date back as early as the 1100's.
The European travelers started amassing African slaves at the same time they were first landing in the Americas.
Although the Europeans views of African citizens varied, Davidson found that all Europeans ?supposed no natural inferiority in Africans, no inherent failure to develop and mature? in the 1500's.
It is difficult to say when and why the European perception of the African changed, but it was at about this point.
The captives were chained together, leg across leg, and by the neck into groups of four.
In all of the heinous situations and deadly afflictions, the most common cause for death upon the slave ships was a simple lack of water.
Of the approximated fifteen thousand slaves in Great Britain, most took this news to be the end of slavery. Escapes and revolts occurred left and right during this time
Looking back, it seems easy to recognize the points were the slave system became perverted and escalated to phenomenal heights.

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[...] This act gave all of the slaves in the British Empire their freedom, and put into effect an initiative for the government to compensate the slave owners monetarily (Spartacus Abolition). The British, who had controlled and pirated over 53% of the total Slave Trade, were now detached from any cause for involvement. It is almost hard to believe that this time in human history ever existed. Looking back, it seems easy to recognize the points were the slave system became perverted and escalated to phenomenal heights. [...]

[...] During this speech, Grenville agued that the practice was “contrary to the principles of justice, humanity and sound policy,” he argued that the trade should have been abolished a long time ago (Spartacus Abolition). Afterwards there was another vote on the bill, which passed in the House of Common 114 to 15, and in the House of Lords 41 to 20. Unfortunately, this bill abolished British participation in the slave trade, but did not end it. The trade was still happening. [...]

[...] The European and African traffickers resorted to methods of kidnapping and trickery to capture more slaves. Another drastic leap for the trade would happen shortly after the Sugar rush. When the potential of the vast North American lands was fully realized, in the late 1600's, where this point the slaving tide became a flood” (Davidson, 75). Slaves were then brought across the sea by the thousands every year to work on private owned plantations. It is difficult to say when and why the European perception of the African changed, but it was at about this point. [...]

[...] By the years 1540, and estimated number of 10,000 African slaves were already being brought to the Americas ever year (Davidson, 65). Many of the European explorers brought their African servants on expeditions and some of these individuals proved to be excellent explorers themselves. Several years after Columbus first landed, about the year 1640, there was an important discovery in the West Indies, the presence of Sugar Cane. Sugar was rare in Europe, and would become a hot commodity in the European colonies. [...]

[...] In all of the heinous situations and deadly afflictions, the most common cause for death upon the slave ships was a simple lack of water. During this period, British abolitionists conducted research and sought after statistics to prove this fact. The research of the time did prove this fact, and modern medicine describes it in a way that one would have to be oblivious not to recognize. Studies show that dehydration can lead to a decline in sodium levels, muscle cramps, throat swelling, vomiting, and as the victim nears death, sunken eyes and delirium. [...]

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