Triangular Trade - Trade routes between England, Africa, and the Colonies.
Items traded in triangular trade - In general, the American colonies sent raw materials to England, England sent manufactured goods to the colonies, African slaves were traded for various goods from the Americans.
How were slaves regarded by colonists? Slaves were regarded as inferior, and were considered property.
Slave Code - Laws denying human rights to slaves.
Racism - The belief that one race is superior to another.
Slaves were shackled in a crouched position, two by two. They were placed in the belly of the ship, which had less than eighteen inches between ceiling and floor. Slaves received a pint of water a day. In order to ensure good circulation, the Africans were forced to dance on the deck while being whipped. Depending on the winds, the voyage took from 5 to 8 weeks. It is no wonder that, on average,one out of every five slaves died from disease on the over-crowded boats. Another one out of three died from the brutal treatment.
African slave trading didn't begin in America. In the century before Columbus "discovered" the New World, some West Africans sold each other to Arabic slave dealers from North Africa.
When Europeans came to the Americas in the 1490s, they used Caribe Indians and Native Americans as workers. Within a few years, however, the newly established colonies began buying slaves from Africa.
Slaves could be purchased in Africa for about $25 and sold in the Americas for about $150. Slave dealers found the business so lucrative that they often referred to Africans as "black gold." Captains of slave ships crammed as many slaves as possible onto their vessels. By the eighteenth century, the slave trade was considered one of the world's largest and most profitable industries.
1619 - Twenty Africans arrive at Jamestown, Virginia aboard a Dutch ship.
1645 - First African slave ship, the 'Rainbowe', sets sail.
1663 - First major African revolt against slavery in Gloucester, Virginia.
1688 - Quakers in Philadelphia make first protest against slavery.
1712 - African revolt against slavery in New York. Pennsylvania passes law preventing importation of slaves.
1739 - Major African revolt in Stono, South Carolina.
1741 - African revolt in New York City.
1775 - African soldiers fight in battles of Bunker Hill, Concord and Lexington.
1777 - Vermont becomes first state to abolish slavery.
1787 - Northwest Ordinance prohibits slavery in the Northwest Territories. Constitution is approved, extending slavery for 20 years.
1800 - Africans in Philadelphia petition Congress to end slavery.
1804 - Ohio 'Black Laws' prevent movement of Africans.
1807 - US prohibits importation of Africans for slavery.
1811 - Africans revolt in Louisiana.
1822 - Denmark Vesey leads African revolt in Charleston, South Carolina.
1831 - Nat Turner leads African revolt in Southhampton County, Virginia.
1839 - Cinque leads African revolt aboard the ship 'Amistad' .
1841 - Africans revolt aboard the ship 'Creole' and flee to Bahamas.
1849 -Harriet Tubman escapes from slavery in Maryland.
1857 - Dred Scott court decision denies African rights by law.
1863 - President Abraham Lincoln signs the Emancipation Proclamation.
1865 - Robert E. Lee surrenders at Appomattox.
1865 - Thirteenth Amendment abolishes slavery
Note: Information was found on The History Channel