African Slave Trade. significant events during 1450-1850
Throughout the African Slave Trade there have been many significant events that happened during 1450-1850. Three of which I will be elaborating on in this topic. The middle passage was the first key event in which Africans were shipped to the New World. The slave treatment and resistance of African men and women who were considered less than human was the second key event. The Fugitive Slave Law which allowed recapture of slaves was the third key event. The Middle Passage was the first step of the triangular trade in which millions of people from Africa were shipped to the New World. Africans were purchased or kidnapped and transported across the Atlantic as slaves, who were then sold or traded for raw materials. Traders from the Americas and the Caribbean received the enslaved Africans. A lot of Africans died at sea, an estimated of 15% of 10,000,000 slaves that were shipped to the Americas. During the journey many Africans became sick and too depressed to eat or function due to loss of freedom, family, security, their own humanity and often the length of the voyage which caused food and water to diminish.
The slave treatment of was often horrific because Africans were treated more like “cargo” or “goods” and were transported for marketing. They would drown slaves at sea, so the owners could collect insurance on the slaves. Slaves were punished by whipping, shackling, hanging, beating, burning, mutilation, branding and/or imprisonment. Refusal to eat and suicide were the two most common types of resistance. Slaves were often force-fed or tortured until they ate, though some still managed to starve themselves to death. The mistreatment of slaves frequently included rape and the sexual abuse of women. Many slaves were killed for resisting sexual attacks.
The Fugitive Slave Law was passed in 1793 and 1850, intended to assist the progress of the recapture and extradition of runaway slaves during the Civil War. Federal marshals were directed to help
The slave treatment of was often horrific because Africans were treated more like “cargo” or “goods” and were transported for marketing. They would drown slaves at sea, so the owners could collect insurance on the slaves. Slaves were punished by whipping, shackling, hanging, beating, burning, mutilation, branding and/or imprisonment. Refusal to eat and suicide were the two most common types of resistance. Slaves were often force-fed or tortured until they ate, though some still managed to starve themselves to death. The mistreatment of slaves frequently included rape and the sexual abuse of women. Many slaves were killed for resisting sexual attacks.
The Fugitive Slave Law was passed in 1793 and 1850, intended to assist the progress of the recapture and extradition of runaway slaves during the Civil War. Federal marshals were directed to help
References: McKissack, Patricia C.; McKissack, Frederick (1995). The Royal Kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhay. p. 109. ISBN 0805042598. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Passage Jim B. (2003-2013) http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-fugitive-slave-law.htm