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Impact of Slavery in the Atlantic World: Trade, Economy, Society

Explore the profound effects of slavery in the Atlantic world through trade, economic developments, and societal impacts from the 18th to 19th century, delving into the European wealth accumulation, African enslavement, labor exploitation, and resistance movements.

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Impact of Slavery in the Atlantic World: Trade, Economy, Society

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  1. Slavery and the Formation of the Atlantic World Readings: Spodek, pps. 486-490, 494-499, 547-548, 548-550

  2. Slavery and the Making of an Atlantic Economy • Coastal Africans so wealthy from slave trade, can keep Europeans out • Do allow Europeans to establish forts along coast • Slaves collected at prisons in these forts for overseas voyage • Portugal, Spain, England, France, the Dutch all have forts

  3. Elmina Fort

  4. Atlantic Slave Trade 18th Century Alone: • 400,000 slaves imported into North America • 1 million slaves imported into Spanish America • More than 1 million slaves imported into the Caribbean, including the French Caribbean (Saint Domingue, Guadeloupe, Martinique) • More than 3 million slaves imported into Brazil

  5. Impact of Slavery • Europeans became very wealthy from slave trade alone • Africans became enchained • Many Africans die before arrival and many more very sick • The attitude towards slaves was worse than animals • Dead/rebellious slaves thrown overboard—slavers collect insurance

  6. Across the Ocean • Used for Agricultural Labor on plantations – sugar, rum, cotton, coffee, tobacco, indigo, cacao (chocolate) • Used also in mining (gold, silver, diamonds) • Produced 1/3 of the Value of European commerce

  7. Saint Domingue (Haiti) • Saint Domingue (Haiti) was maybe the worst • Mostly produced sugar; tobacco also important • It was cheaper to work the slaves to death and buy new ones than to take care of them • Main form of resistance: creation of maroon societies • It had heavy African influence

  8. Society in Saint Domingue • Much race mingling • Much emancipation on the death of slave owner: • Rise of free wealthy landowning Mulattos: • General George Dumas-freed slave, father of Alexandre • Wanted preservation of slavery • Wanted to be treated as equals of white planters • Whites, especially poor whites, hated them

  9. Brazil • Similar to Saint Domingue • 17th C: Main crop sugar, cashasa • 18th C: gold, diamonds • 19th C: coffee • Worked slaves to death • Early Slave revolt where the slaves refused to eat. • Many new Africans • Constant revolts--quilimbos • Much race mixing • Slavery abolished in 1888.

  10. Engenho – Site of Sugar Production

  11. Prayer of St. Francis – Bahian Chuches dedicated to Saint Francis? • Lord, make me an instrument of your peace, Where there is hatred, let me sow love;where there is injury, pardon;where there is doubt, faith;where there is despair, hope;where there is darkness, light;where there is sadness, joy; • How did Portuguese Christians reconcile their religion with their treatment of slaves?

  12. Portuguese in the World Economy-Items found in 18th C Shipwreck Near Bahia

  13. United States—the South • Big crop—tobacco—”the sot weed” – later cotton • Rice – introduced by Africans • Encouraged slave breeding so there was less direct African influence-few slave imports after the 18th century • Compared to Saint Domingue and Brazil, • Slave birth rates relatively high • Slave death rates relatively low

  14. Was Slavery “Better” in the U.S.? • Extreme open antipathy to race-mixing • Anti-mescegination laws • But ….

  15. Impact of Slavery in the Americas • Ecology: • Rice introduced from Africa • Medicinal/healing plants • Economy: • Plantation economy – new crops • Language: • Pidgeon • creole

  16. Religious Impact in the Americas • Saint Domingue/Haiti: Vudon • Cuba, Spanish America: • Santeria • Brazil: • Macumba, Condomble, Islam, Catholicism (African Church – Bahia) • U.S. South: • Methodist Episcopal Church, Gospel Churches

  17. Religious Syncretism in Brazil • Creation of new hybrid beliefs joining African, Christian, and perhaps some native religion • Slaves from West Africans identified their deities (orixãs) with Christian saints • Yemaja – spirit of the seas associated with the Virgin Mary

  18. Xango – God of Thunder

  19. African Influences in the Americas • Dance: Capoeira, Samba (Brazil), Tango (Argentina), Salsa, Merengue • Music: • Reggae • Much American “folk” music • Blues • Jazz • Rock • Hip Hop • World Music

  20. Slavery and Racism • Renaissance paintings include Africans as equals. • Race became linked with color in the Americas.

  21. How Europeans justified slavery? • The Bible Curse of the “Sons of Ham,” Noah’s son – descendants to be slaves of his brothers • Economy/ Property • “Civilizing” Mission • Growing Racism

  22. Forces to end slavery • Abolitionist Movements • Slave Revolts • Quakers • Some Enlightenment Thinkers • Economically unprofitable? • Wars

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