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Influence of Slave Trade on Colonies

             During the era of the Atlantic trade, slave importation had become an extremely popular commodity among colonists. Some may argue that slavery was completely debauched and unnecessary. On the contrary, slave trade was still a significant stimulus to the development of the colonies. The middle and the New England colonies were smaller, therefore not so dependent on a superfluous amount of labor. However, the colonists of the South did need the surplus quantity of laborers to mass produce goods and attain great wealth. This influx of slaves in the colonies immensely diversified the population and the opinions of the colonists. Some Americans believed Africans should not be subjugated to slavery and others believed that slavery was the preeminent method to obtaining mass wealth. Even though the Northern colonies were opposed to the exploitation of Africans, the Atlantic slave trade system greatly influenced the structure of the colonies, particularly the South because they were greatly contingent on the frequent importation of slaves and slave labor.
             "By the year of independence, the number of slaves in North America increased to 500,000." (Doc A). The greedy plantation owners of the south constantly sought to acquire greater affluence and riches through trading of raw materials such as cotton, which led to the importation of an increasing amount of slaves. The Southerners turned to Africa for their slave supply because they believed colored folk were insignificant and easy to control. Many were opposed to this depredation on Africa just to produce more cotton because the slaves were treated pieces of property, but the Southerners continued to import slaves by the thousands. .
             Each year, southerners had taken 40,000 to 100,000 slaves were from Africa and forced them to work on their plantations. Many of the slaves were crammed into small crates and most did not survive the trip.


Essays Related to Influence of Slave Trade on Colonies

1. Racism and Economics of the Atlantic Slave Trade

The Atlantic Slave Trade benefited the Europeans, the slave traders, and the American colonists. ... Fergus agreed with Zinn in that racism towards the Africans began before the slave trade. ... According to Dabney, after slaves were transported to the colonies, they ate more meat, wore better clothing, and lived in better houses than their ancestors did. ... Fergus also explained that slave plantations were given similar names, especially in colonies with strong Catholic connections. ... One influential merchant in the 18th century said slaves were "the fundamental prop and support" of the E...

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  • Approx Pages: 5
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2. The Thirteen Colonies: Geography and Culture

Slaves were never needed to work the small farms that sprung up occasionally. ... Due to the poor production of food in New England, trade became the most lucrative profession. ... The result of this was a Dutch-like strong trading economy like the Netherlands. ... Pennsylvania's culture was most influenced by the Quakers that founded it under William Penn. ... The geographic feature that most influenced the economy of the Southern colonies was that the soil between Virginia and George was suited for tobacco and to a later on to the other cash crops. ...

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3. The Early Colonies of Virginia and Massachusetts

The New England colonies had the benefit of abundant natural resources and lucrative crops such as furs, deerskins, timber, fish, tobacco, indigo, rice, sugar, etc. and they traded them with other countries. By the end of the 17th century, the colonies had become part of the intricate North Atlantic commercial connection, and were trading with both Britain and the West Indies. They also traded illegally with Spain, France, Portugal, Holland, and their colonies from America to the shores of Africa. Contrary to Virginia's slave ownership and indentured servants, the families in the Massachu...

  • Word Count: 646
  • Approx Pages: 3
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4. African Slave Trade

The African Slave Trade I. ... End of the Slave Trade V. ... Early European trade with West Africa involved the trading of gold and not slaves. ... Since slavery was viewed as unchristian and illegal in the early years of the Spanish colonies, special permission for slavery had to be granted (called the asiento). ... The mortality rate was influenced by the lack of medical attention. ...

  • Word Count: 2584
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5. French And English Colonization

The impact of the English was enormous, from the settling of colonies in North America, to the development of North American slave trade, and the emergence of tobacco as a major crop, the achievements of the English are clear and distinct. ... From California and Florida to Tierra del Fuego, the Spanish empire influenced a large array of cultures and formed the defining ways of their existences. ... Tobacco directly contributed to the beginning of slave trade. ... This seems to be the origin of the North American slave system. ... The successfulness of these colonies relied upon the slav...

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6. A Slave Society

It is estimated that in the four centuries of slave trading, slave ships transported upwards of 10 million Africans to the Americas. Slave trade was by no means limited to the Portuguese though. ... While the slave trade made Europe and America stronger, it made Africa weaker. ... Most of this labor took place in the colonies of the Upper South and slave numbers were expanding at around double the rate of the general population. In the Lower South settlement and slavery went hand in hand, as some colonies were slave societies from the beginning. ...

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7. Slavery In The American Colonies

Generally, slaves were used as domestics and in trade in the northern colonies; in the Middle Atlantic colonies, they were used more in agriculture; and in the southern colonies, where plantation agriculture was the primary occupation, most slaves were used to work the plantations. ... This decision was influenced by the fact that Native Americans, whom Spaniards had attempted to enslave at first, were seen as unsuitable for the harsh labour. ... Bound labour was common in all the colonies because of the intense labour shortage. ... When English merchants became involved in the slave trade...

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8. New England/ Southern Colonies

The Life of New England and Southern Colonies The New England and Southern Colonies were both settled by the English. ... The motivations of the two colonies were very different, and as a result the two colonies diverged in their goals. ... This, and manufactured goods, were traded for slaves (formally known as the triangular trade). ... There was a huge gap between the New England Colonies and the Southern Colonies when it came to religious beliefs as well. ... They were miles apart which allowed them to create the own "world" without and influences from other societies. ...

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9. Differences in Northern and Southern Colonies

The northern colonies were composed of individuals that mainly came from the eastern part of England. ... They became shipbuilders and fisherman, grew food and were well supplied to trade goods. On the other hand, the southerners had a high death rate due to disease which influenced the small growth of population. The southern colonies" major industry was agriculture due to their long growing season. Additionally, the south was composed of many slaves because they were needed for the labor intensive crops found in the south such as cotton, tobacco, and indigo. ...

  • Word Count: 275
  • Approx Pages: 1
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

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