The Atlantic System and Africa

1. The Atlantic System and Africa 1550-1800

2. Plantations in the West Indies

3. Colonization Before 1650 Colonization of the West Indies Spanish introduced sugarcane plantations 1500s Northern Europeans became interested in beginning tobacco plantations there in the early 1600s Tobacco was becoming popular in Europe profitable

4. Populations on the French and English islands grew due to chartered companies and free passage for poor Europeans. Chartered companies were given monopolies by the govt. Indentured servants worked 3 to 4 years to repay their debt

5. These colonies soon faced competition from Virginia’s tobacco plantations. The Portuguese began sugar plantations in Brazil. Used an African slave labor force

6. The Dutch government chartered the Dutch West India Company while they were fighting the Spanish for their independence Disguised Dutch Navy Took part of the Brazilian coast Took trade centers on West African coast Began trans-Atlantic slave trade

7. Sugar and Slaves West Indies Colonies Economies switched from tobacco to sugar plantations Worked by Africans/ African outnumbered Europeans Indentured servants could no longer afford land on the islands, stopped coming to the Indies African slaves usually lived for seven years while indentures servants would be released after 3 or 4 years.

8. Plantation Life in the Eighteenth Century

9. Technology and Environment Sugar plantations Needed crushing and processing machines Used mills powered by animals, wind, or water The size of sugar plantations grew Caused soil exhaustion and deforestation The native Carib were becoming extinct and the islands were being repopulated by Europeans and Africans.

10. Slaves’ Lives Plantation colonies 90% of the population were slaves The plantocracy held all the power Slaves may work up to 18 hour days Twice as many males were brought from Africa Majority of field workers were women Slave gangs were overseen by a “driver” Harsh punishment motivated hard work Life expectancy: males 23, females 25.5

11. 1/3 died during seasoning Most died of diseases High mortality led to an increase in the slave trade Slaves were required to leave their African heritage and learn the colonial language To prevent rebellions African belief in nature spirits, witch craft and herbal medicine remained strong.

12. Free Whites and Free Blacks 3 groups Wealthy land owners (grands blancs) Well off Europeans (petits blancs) Free blacks Did the same jobs as Europeans, some even owned slaves Some wealthy British plantation owners lived in Britain and were members of Parliament.

13. Free black populations grew Female slaves and the children fathered by their owners were granted manumission. Manumission was more common in the French and Spanish colonies. Escaped slaves added to the free black population. Maroons, or Caribbean runaways

14. Creating the Atlantic Economy

15. Capitalism and Mercantilism Capitalism Banks, stock exchanges, and chartered trading companies People could invest in companies for profit Mercantilism Policies adopted by European states to promote overseas trade and accumulate capital Usually precious metals

16. Chartered companies Mercantilist capitalism The Dutch East India company was given a charter by the Dutch government that gave them exclusive rights to trade in the Indian Ocean. Private investors had to buy shares of the company if they wanted to profit from overseas trade.

17. French and English used military force for commercial dominance Countries passed laws to keep their colonies from trading with foreigners.

18. The Atlantic Circuit A clockwise network of sea routes From Europe, south to Africa, west to the Americas and then returned to Europe Europe to Africa European manufactured goods used to purchase African products and slaves. Africa to America; the Middle Passage Slaves were taken west to the plantation colonies America to Europe Plantation goods returned to Europe Other trade routes brought profits to other regions.

19. With increased demand for sugar in Europe came an increased demand for slaves on the plantations. The middle passage voyage took 6 to 10 weeks. Many slaves tried to escape Some had to be force fed Most deaths were due to disease rather than abuse

20. Africa, the Atlantic and Islam

21. The Gold Coast and the Slave Coast African exports Slaves, gold, ivory and timber Imports Beads, cloths, metal and guns 18th century added tobacco and rum Africans that were sold as slaves were usually prisoners of war.

22. The Bight of Biafara and Angola Bight of Biafara Interior Africa No large state, therefore no major wars Kidnapping was the major source of slaves Fairs were set up to sell Africans to African traders. Angola South of the Congo Their slaves came from refugees escaping drought

23. Africa’s European and Islamic Contacts Territory Until 1800, the Africans gave up very little territory to the Europeans. The Muslims had been able to conquer most of north Africa. Due to the Sub-Saharan Africans’ military abilities The Songhai Empire West Africa Muslim dynasty Took slaves and tribute from local populations

24. Hausa cities Western Sudan Trading cities Trade items were similar to those on the Atlantic coast Slave trade With Islamic traders Not as large as the Atlantic slave trade Slaves sold into Middle East and India Slaves became soldiers and servants

25. Religion Neither Christianity or Islam condemned slave ownership at the time. Islam had spread into Africa existing in urban areas European cultural influence was limited. Between 1550 and 1800 8 million Africans exported to the Atlantic 2 million Africans exported to the Islamic trade network