Sample History Paper on Trans-Atlantic 16th century Slave Trade

Question 1

Several types of slavery as well as forced human labor were present in different parts of the world previous to start of the trans-Atlantic 16^th century slave trade. Africans slavery in West African before the arrival of Europeans existed in different forms and for various reasons. The reasons involved enslaving those who were arrested during battles and enslaving people as a way of punishing them for their crimes. In some situations, those who were enslaved were required to work in order to regain their freedom while the children of the enslaved people were not supposed to automatically become slaved. It is important to note that different kinds of enslaved existed in Africa before the arrival of European and it had several impacts on African people.

While Africa had a diverse empire with small and medium-sized kinship groups, at times of conflicts, the captives were enslaved as they were regarded as outsiders¹. The prisoners could provide forced labor and be forced to contribute in the expansion of kinship group, create impact in spiritual beliefs where they were enslaved. The slavery in western Africa before the arrival of European traders was different from the chattel slavery. Family debts could be paid by enslaving one member of the family¹. The slaves were crucial to the African society as well as the economy in that they assisted the African traders in the transportation of loads along the different routes especially the river routes. They will lose money if the slaves were not available to transport the goods hence affecting the economy. Another issue that would affect the economy was the taxes that rulers routinely collected from the slave populations in different villages which were near to their capitals¹. The main responsibilities that the slaves were given involved attending to the different situation on behalf of their masters, carrying cargo, as well as working in farms, mines and in houses¹.

There existed a similar in the manner in which some slaves never had control or freedom both in West Africa setting and the Europeans. To some extent both the two systems practiced chattel slavery which involved coerced labor. However, Europeans handled their slaves inhumanely and deprived them freedom over their lives.  In West Africa had some degree of control over certain issues in their lives and could be allowed to own property.

 

Reference

1. Hine, D. C. (2018). African-american Odyssey: Combined Volume, Books a la Carte Edition. Prentice Hall.

 

Question 2

The middle passage can be described as a hazardous journey that involved transporting African Slaves to west indies across the Atlantic Ocean where a large percentage of died. The slaves were captured from their homes sold and transported using the ship to the outside world to work in plantations and in other strenuous jobs¹. The period of transportation could be as a long as three months where the slaves were overcrowded and subjected to different challenges such as severe weather conditions. It is important to note that the middle passage was a dangerous experience that subjected the slaves and the crews to plentiful challenges leading to several deaths.

African were forcefully moved from their villages to various ports and packed on ships. In order to accommodate the largest number of slaves, only tiny spaces were allocated for each and many were even unable to stand in an upright position¹. As the slaves were unable to turn over, many died in such positions and due to the prolonged journey having bad weather conditions. The slaves were forced to exercise in bad weather conditions which resulted in health problems such as dysentery or fever hence leading to high death rates. The ships were exposed to several risks such as mutinies, sea storms, and pirate raids. About half of the Africans transported died on their way to the new world. Some committed suicide while others died of smallpox and dysentery.

The effects of the transatlantic trade were extremely detrimental to Africans societies as well as slaves. Slaves from the different region were put next to each so that I could be difficult for them to plan rebellion. The capitalistic nature of the traders resulted in financial gains on their part but posing terrible physical as well as emotional distress to African society¹. Even the crews suffered a lot from the severe experiences of diseases, bad weather, and other difficulties. Human suffering was high and characterized by numerous slave death thrown into the Atlantic sea.

Reference

1. Hine, D. C. (2018). African-american Odyssey: Combined Volume, Books a la Carte Edition. Prentice Hall.

Question 3

The procedure or codes to determine the person who deserved to be a slave had to change after several demands that threatened the colonial economy. In Europe, once a person converted to Christianity, he or she earned freedom hence resulting to loss of slaves by conversion to Christianity. The native Americans who had been captives of different wars were been enslaved but their aggressiveness established a state where they could easily evade slavery returning back to their homes. The numbers of natives Americans who could be enslaved became limited. Selling of slaves became illegal with those been involved paying high charges¹. It is important to note that the codes governing those who could be enslaved had to be changed because the only available means of getting slaves were proving unsuccessful. Conversion to Christianity brought freedom while laws viewed selling slaves as kidnapping and most laborers demanded decent pay for their services.

Slavery was enforced mostly on captives who could win their freedom upon conversion to Christianity. However, as time passed it became hard to acquire slave hence better methods of defining those who deserved to be slaves were needed. The shift from a characteristic that would be changed to racial information which is unchangeable was seen as the best way to get the right manner of acquiring slaves. The Europeans stated describing and viewing themselves as whites rather than Christians and the shift was effect in the colonial laws. The definition of a slave shifted from a non-Christian to those who were black in appearance¹. Further, the codes were changed to make the children to automatically become slaves hence making slavery hereditary. There was a fear of losing workforce to different colonies by the Europeans hence more effective methods of acquiring slaves were required.

The codes governing who was supposed to be enslaved changed to base slavery on racial factors as a result of the impending danger that the colonies had predicated. The demand for free labor in plantations and other areas to enhance the colonial economy was a major consideration in changing the slave codes. More rules were put in place to hasten the process of acquiring slaves as cheap labor.  Many people made investments in the slave trade in order to get free land and valuable labor whenever they enslaved an African.

Reference

1. Hine, D. C. (2018). African-american Odyssey: Combined Volume, Books a la Carte Edition. Prentice Hall.

Question 4

American revolution posed various effects to slavery where the northern states instantly abolished slavery or develop a gradual mechanism to eliminate it. In southern states, the revolution caused great disruption to slavery though it was successfully strengthened. Many slaves acquired freedom as a result of the revolution. It is crucial to note that the revolution served as an inspiration to the resistance of the African-Americans slavery and the slave trade.

In northern states, there was a focused move to end slavery during the revolution both instantly as well as through the use of gradual mechanisms. The philosophy of natural rights perpetrated by the revolution inspired free blacks to petition Congress to consider their rights by ending slavery¹. They pointed out that the American agreements to fight for liberty, as well as equality, was contradictory to slavery.

Although many changes occurred with the slavery institution during the revolutionary war, there were negative impacts as well. Legal restrictions such as a ban to marry people of mixed race which were imposed on American ensured racism and slavery was preserved. In parts such as Virginia, legal restrictions made in 1972 made it difficult for slaves to be freed and racism was highly encouraged. Slavery continued even after the revolutionary war and many of those who had acquired freedom suffered different challenges of been jobless and lacking life necessities. Overall, the American revolt did not do more a lot to end the slavery in current America but to preserve as slavery continued even the American revolution¹. The blacks were still perceived as less human and undeserving despite the belief that all men were equal. The political leaders such Jefferson had several slaves which are an indication the revolution did not focus mainly on eliminating slavery.

Reference

1. Hine, D. C. (2018). African-american Odyssey: Combined Volume, Books a la Carte Edition. Prentice Hall.