History and Citizenship

Activity 9.1

1. From your knowledge of Unit 8 about the Trans-Saharan Trade, write down the meanings of ‘trans’ and ‘trade’. 

2. Using an atlas, identify oceans of the world.

The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade was the trade which involved Europe, West Africa and the West Indies (America). It was also called the Triangular Trade. This was because the ships used made three stages in the course of their journey. That is, from Europe to West Africa, America and back to Europe. This made the shape of a triangle.

Fig. 9.1: Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade routes

Origin of Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade

Activity 9.2

When mangoes are in plenty, their price goes down. In this case, supply exceeds demand. On the other hand, when mangoes are out of season, their price goes up. In this case, demand exceeds supply. 

Define the terms ‘demand’ and ‘supply’.

Trade is necessitated by forces of demand and supply. Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade started and thrived as a result of these forces.

Slaves were demanded by European countries even after the decline of Trans-Saharan Trade. This gave a boost to Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. The origin of Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade can be traced to as early as 1441. 

It started when Gonzalves, a Portuguese explorer in West Africa, took ten slaves to Portugal. He took them initially as missionary trainees, but later turned them to be slaves. The slaves looked energetic. This marked the beginning of Triangular Trade especially after Portuguese developed Port Elmina. Port Elmina was developed in 1482 to handle the trade. 

Various European countries such as Britain, France, Spain, Dutch and Portugal scrambled for slaves. They scrambled for slaves from West Africa to America (New Found Lands) because of free labour. 

European countries needed agricultural raw materials to feed their home industries. They would then bring their manufactured goods to West Africa. The goods included guns, salt, clothes, mirrors, shoes, tea and sugar. 

Factors for the rise, growth and development of TransAtlantic Slave Trade 

Activity 9.3

1. Look at Activity 8.2 again. 

2. Re-write the reasons that may have led to Neza’s success in business.

Some of the reasons that you gave in reference to Activity 8.2 are very important. They help us to see the link between Trans-Saharan Trade and Triangular Trade. They help us analyse factors that led to development of the two trades.

Let us now look at the factors that led to the rise and growth of Triangular Trade

(i) The Industrial Revolution in Europe: Industrialists needed raw materials and market for their manufactured goods. The Europeans resorted to Africans for market. In return, they obtained slaves who were sold to European plantation owners in exchange for raw materials. 

(ii) The discovery of America and West Indies by Spain in 1492: The discovery of America and West Indies was one important factor. The subsequent occupation of these areas by other European countries was another factor. Both factors led to the rise and growth of Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. 

(iii) The decline of Trans-Saharan Trade: This led to the rise of Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. There was a constant demand for slaves and commodities thereafter. 

(iv) The introduction of armed conflicts in African politics:  This prompted the need to acquire European arms and ammunitions. Other factors were: 

(i) The trade was profitable to the Europeans and Africans who were involved in it. African chiefs and other participants got European goods which were of high value. 

(ii) There was a desire by African chiefs to get wealth and political power. This could be obtained through the acquisition of arms and maintaining friendship with Europeans. 

(iii) There was the growth of new merchants in Europe as feudalism was declining. The new merchants of Europe wanted to accumulate a lot of wealth. This became a justification to participate in the Triangular Trade. 

 (iv) There was development of consumer culture among the African chiefs. There was also the need for the European goods. These two needs encouraged the Africans to sell their fellow Africans into slavery. 

(v) There was increased demand for certain luxurious goods such as sugar, alcohol, clothes and mirrors. This demand led to rise and growth of Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. 

(vi) The winds and ocean currents helped to steer the European ships to America and Africa. These were the north-east trade winds and the north equatorial currents.

(vii) Africans were considerably physically fit. They could withstand harsh climatic conditions in America compared to Europeans or Asians.

(viii) The supply of firearms became a factor for the development of Triangular Trade. Africans wanted to acquire firearms to defend themselves against enemies and calm down internal wars. 

Organisation of Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade

The Triangular Trade was linked, organised and conducted along the great triangle. The triangle linked three continents of Europe, Africa and America. 

• From Europe to Africa: Ships would carry traders and manufactured goods such as guns, gunpowder, clothes, beads and utensils. 

• From Africa to America: Africans would receive manufactured goods and in return give Europeans slaves. They also sold ivory, bee-wax, honey and tortoise shells. Europeans would then head to America. 

• From America to Europe: Slaves in America would grow cash crops such as cotton, coffee, tea, sugar cane and tobacco. They would also exploit minerals such as iron ore, copper, gold and diamond. These raw materials would be shipped to Europe to feed their home industries.

Activity 9.4

Draw a big triangle on a manila paper. 

• Mark the top angle as Europe.

 • Mark the angle on your right as West Africa. 

• Mark the angle on your left as America (West Indies). 

• On each angle, indicate the goods involved.

The European merchants did not go into the interior of Africa to capture slaves. The African chiefs, traders and wealthy people could take them to Europeans at a cost. Africans were enslaved in five ways. These were: 

a) Criminals were sold by chiefs as a punishment. 

b) Free Africans were captured in raids by African and European gangs. 

c) Domestic slaves were resold to Europeans. 

d) Prisoners of war and debtors who failed to pay would be sold. 

e)  Porters who went carrying goods to the coast were normally kidnapped and sold into slavery. 

Kings and chiefs carried out constant raids and slaves were bartered for the European goods.  Later on, cowrie shells were introduced as money as a medium of exchange.

Fig. 9.2: Slave trade 

Slaves captured in the interior were made to match in caravans for long distances. Their arms and neck were tied to each other. Slaves had no sufficient water and food. However, those who refused or failed to continue were killed. Some were tied on the trees and left to be eaten by wild animals. 

At the coast, slaves were inspected and branded then taken to America. They were made to work in cotton, sugar cane, tobacco and tea plantations. They also worked in gold and silver mines. 

Slaves worked for long hours with little food and rest. They suffered from physical weakness (fatigue), poor living conditions and harsh treatment.  Most of them died. 

The products of their labour were taken to feed the European industries. The industries made products which were again taken to West Africa for exchange of slaves. The trade continued in that cycle.

Fig. 9.3: Slaves packed in a ship during Triangular Trade

Effects of Trans-Atlantic Trade

Activity 9.5 

1. Define the term ‘migration’. 

2. Discuss the effects of migration

Migration of people comes with various effects. These effects can be social, political or economic. Triangular Trade too had some effects. The effects have been discussed below. 

Social effects

(i) It led to depopulation of many areas through constant wars and raids. Approximately 15.4 million people were exported. 

(ii) It led to dehumanisation of human beings. That is, human beings lost value and were reduced to minor items. 

(iii) Raids and wars displaced many people from their homes while others ran away into hiding. 

(iv) There was general moral decay in Africa. The punishments which used to be given to the offenders in the society were ignored. Instead, they were sold into slavery. 

(v) Africans were disposed to different parts of the world to form new races. Some were sent to America, Portugal, France and Spain. 

(vi) It greatly accelerated the spread of Christianity in predominantly Islamic states of West Africa. 

Political effects

(i) It led to the growth of trading states such as Calabar and Bonny along the coast. 

(ii) It led to the growth and expansion of some empires in West Africa. Most of those empires such as Dahomey, Oyo and Asante participated in the trade. 

(iii) It led to the destruction of strong states and empires due to frequent wars and raids. 

(iv) It delayed the European penetration in the interior of West Africa. This was because the middlemen wanted to maintain their positions. This hindered the development in the interior compared to the coastal towns.

Economic effects

(i) It led to the decline of Trans-Saharan Trade. It reversed Africa trade from North Africa towards the coast of West Africa. 

(ii) Centres of wealth and power moved. They moved from the Sudanese states to forest states and to the coastal trading communities. 

(iii) It hindered economic development of West Africa because people paid attention on slave trade. People neglected agriculture, industry and legitimate trade. 

(iv) Art and craft such as pottery and weaving declined. This was because the products made were replaced with European finished goods. 

(v) Insecurity that prevailed stopped people from carrying out agriculture.  Crops and livestock were destroyed leading to famine. 

(vi) It benefited the Europeans. The majority in West Africa did not gain much from slave trade. 

(vii) It encouraged the development of coastal towns and ports such as Accra and Lagos. 

Problems encountered in Triangular Trade

Activity 9.6

Describe challenges that people who are migrating to a distant land are likely to face. 

(Note: Assume that there are no modern means of transport.)

You can link the challenges of migration in Activity 9.6 with Triangular Trade. You realise that the challenges of migration are related with those of Triangular Trade. Let us now look at the problems that were encountered during Triangular Trade.

(i) Poor means of exchange: They initially practised barter trade. Later, cowrie shells were introduced as a medium of exchange. Barter system of trade proved to be inconsistent and unfair in the trade. 

(ii)  Language barrier: The people of West Africa could not talk the languages of the Europeans. This made trade a bit more difficult and complicated. 

(iii) Hostile tribes: Some tribes in West Africa were harsh and hostile. Traders could not penetrate through and carry out hunting and raids of slaves. This made trade a bit difficult.

(iv) Food shortage: Traders could at times run out of food. Agriculture was rarely practised in villages because of constant hunting of slaves. 

(v) Poor communication network: Roads and railways were not there. Traders were forced to move and walk long distances in the forests of West Africa. 

(vi) Wild animals: Traders encountered a problem of wild animals such as leopards, lions and hyenas. The animals threatened their movements in the forests of West Africa.

 (vii) Diseases: Traders were affected by diseases such as sleeping sickness and malaria which killed some of them. 

(viii) High taxes on trade items: African chiefs demanded high taxes from the traders. This later on demoralised traders because they made little profits.

Reasons for the abolition of Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade

Activity 9.7 

Pick out the negative effects of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. (Refer to Activity 9.5)

Critically looked at, the negative effects show why it was necessary to abolish the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. The following were some of the reasons for the abolition of the trade: 

(i) The British government, through parliament, banned (stopped) slavery in 1807. It was found out that free labour was cheaper than forced labour. 

(ii) Some humanitarians realised that slavery and slave trade were illegal both before God and before the Law. They started the campaigns for its abolition. 

(iii) Slaves in the plantations often rioted, killed their masters and destroyed their property. 

(iv) Economic factors in Europe led to the abolition of slave trade. For example, as a result of Industrial Revolution, machines could do work better than labour. Therefore, human labour of slaves was no longer needed. 

(v) Britain and other European countries needed market in West Africa. They could not get it before establishing conditions. Therefore, they had to abolish slave trade.

(vi) The British industrialists needed more raw materials such as cotton for textile industries. They also needed palm oil to lubricate their industry machines. They agreed that slaves should be set free.

 (vii) It was the British national interest to abolish slave trade. This was because if Trans-Atlantic Trade continued, it would have reduced the growth of industries.

 (viii) Brazil and Cuba started to produce sugar cane in large quantities in the 19th Century. It was cheaper in European markets. Britain felt that slave trade was no longer profitable. 

(ix) The American Revolution of 1776 against the British colonial masters undermined slave trade. Colonies in America declared themselves independent. Britain changed her attitudes towards these colonies. Britain started to invest in industries which needed less human labour. 

(x) The introduction and development of legitimate trade made the abolition of slave trade possible. It created a new type of economy, where European and African traders would benefit. It was profitable to sell raw materials than selling slaves. It was also cheaper to transport raw materials than slaves. 

(xi) The French Revolution of 1789 emphasised liberty, fraternity, solidarity and equality of all human beings. The revolution helped to create awareness about human rights. 

(xii) The rise of men with new ideas in Europe. Great thinkers (philosophers) such as Voltaire preached against slave trade and slavery in the world.

 (xiii) The declaration of independence of the Maroons (ex-slaves) in Jamaica. This raised a lot of concern. Slave owners started looking at slaves as a liability than as an asset. 

(xiv) The exploration of the interior of West Africa by Europeans helped to abolish slave trade. The European and African associations were interested in the scientific and geographical problems.  They were also interested in market for European manufactured goods. Slaves were no longer an issue to recon with. 

(xv) The new policy of colonisation of Africa could not succeed if slave trade was still on. In order to colonise and exploit African resources, it was important to first stop slave trade. It was only then that the colonialists could make themselves acceptable in Africa. 

Revision questions

1. Explain why Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade is commonly referred to as ‘Triangular Trade’. 

2. Explain the origin of Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.

 3. Triangular Trade had to rise, grow and develop because of various factors. Mention at least eight factors. 

4. Explain the effects of Triangular Trade on West Africa, Europe and America. 

5. Clearly elaborate the organisation of Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade before the 19th Century. 

6. Explain the reasons that led to the collapse of Triangular Trade in the 19th Century.