One of the cruellest legacies of empire is SLAVERY.

Between the 16th and 19th centuries over 12 million African people were forced from their homes and taken to become slaves in parts of America and the Caribbean.
Millions would suffer and die under this cruel trade.

European powers, like Britain, would use its growing colonial EMPIRE to create what was known as the TRIANGULAR TRADE:

• The slaves would have to endure horrific conditions in a ship before being unloaded in their destination.
  
• They would be put to work on tough, hot plantations harvesting crops like tobacco, sugar or cotton
  
•  Up to 12 million people were forcibly captured and transported from the continent of Africa across the Atlantic ocean to to work as slaves on Plantations in the West Indies, Brazil or the United States.
  
• Up to 2 million people would die on this horrific journey.
  
• Those that did survive would have to endure a life of utter hardship and strain as they were put to work on sugar or cotton plantations, making vast amounts of money for their White European or American 'owners'
  
• It was only in the 19th century that this repulsive trade in human began to be stopped. It was not the end of racism or discrimination and the legacy of slavery still remains around the world and is clearly seen in recent world protests such as Black Lives Matter. 
  

The TRIANGULAR TRADE was a very well organised Trade triangle

• Ships would be loaded with manufactured goods in countries like the UNITED KINGDOM
• The ships would sail to West Africa and dock at trading ports set up along the coast. They would exchange their manufactured goods for Slaves. These slaves were often captured by warring tribes and exchanged for the manufactured goods like cloth. 
• The Slaves were then crammed into ships and taken across the Atlantic . 
• They were sold at market and the ships were then refilled with produce for the European markets such as Tobacco and Cotton 
• This trade made Europeans and Americans very wealthy as they were able to produce crops very cheaply and sell them elsewhere for a profit.
• Slavers became wealthy with their global trade. 

BBC Bitesize - Triangular trade

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The Middle Passage was the middle journey of the Triangular trade. The Africa to Americas route. It was notoriously horrific as it involved the transportation of the slaves. It could last from 2-3 months.

Slave ships were tightly packed with up to 600 slaves. In fact, there were designs which were created to show the best way to pack in slaves. These were sailing ships sailing in tropical waters, with baking sun and ferocious storms. Many slaves, trapped below decks in groups of over 600, would die from the terrible conditions. Disease, starvation and even suffocation as they were crushed in the hot unventilated holds. Some starved themselves to death due to the despair. 
Slave owners would sometimes make the slaves dance on deck in order to keep them healthier for the slave market or as entertainment. 
Up to TWO MILLION would die on this MIDDLE PASSAGE between Africa and the America's. The area was recently described in a BBC documentary as 'One huge crime scene' 

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After such an horrific journey slaves were prepared for sale. They hoped to get the most money possible but this depended on them looking as healthy as possible - this wasn't easy after such a terrible journey. There were a number of steps taken to help:

auction or scramble?

Officially they were not SLAVES until they were bought and branded by their new White masters.   This sale took place in TWO different ways

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On arrival in the Americas or West Indies the slaves were sold and sent to work on the PLANTATIONS. These were large estates growing valuable crops such as Sugar, Coffee, Tobacco or Cotton. 

• This was often back breaking work and their hands would be bleeding from the types of plants involved.
• Gangs of slaves would consist of men, women children and the elderly.
• They worked from dusk until dawn under the orders of the white Overseer. They would be whipped if they did not work hard enough.
• Working days were often over 18 hours a day at harvest
• They would be given small breaks for breakfast and lunch. 
• They would return to their quarters late and be made to do chores before going to bed .. having to get up at day break for another day of work.
• They would live on the Plantation in communal quarters. Thatched cottages with earth floors and the most basic of furniture. 
• Some would be forced to wear the heavy iron chains around their neck; They would also be branded. If they escaped they could be executed if found. In the West Indies the fact they were islands often made escape impossible

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The trade in slavery eventually began to be opposed in greater numbers.  In 1787, the influential British politician, William WILBERFORCE began to work with other groups to form a powerful ANTI SLAVERY MOVEMENT

This was fiercely opposed, especially as many British politicians had made lots of money in the slave trade. However, gradually their campaign became so popular that they could not be ignored. 

In 1807 Britain eventually abolished the slave trade across its empire. It would lead to other countries following

slavery quiz