The Atlantic Slave Trade

Kimberly Reyes
Word Count: 1582

The Atlantic Slave Trade is the spread of slavery of Africans throughout the world across
the Atlantic Ocean. In more detail, the Atlantic Slave Trade transported a heavy amount of slaves
from Africa to North and South America in ships; these ships were often so remarkably
impacted, that a number of slaves died of starvation, disease, or suicide, before arriving at their
destination.
Among many countries, Brazil was transported the majority of slaves taken from Africa.
The Caribbean, including, Cuba, Barbados, and Jamaica were behind Brazil, with the United
States, and parts of Mexico receiving the least amount of slaves. Apart from the Americas, the
Atlantic Slave Trade also imported slaves to Europe, Asia, and northern parts of Africa, including
Egypt, Morocco, and Libya. Africas slaves were often taken from Southeast Africa, the Swahili
Coast, Gold Coast and the majority from West Central Africa; the voyages often took as much as
three months to arrive to their stops (Campbell).
Amid merchants, Europeans dominated the slave trade. Great Britain took the lead in the
trade resulting in an advanced industrialization throughout their country with a very profitable
nineteenth century (Campbell). Apart from assisting in the countries industrialization, those that
were enslaved and brought to Europe also contributed to their production of manufactured
goods (Campbell). In other words, slaves not only helped in providing labor, but were
consumers to the goods manufactured in the country.
Important factors in history, however, are often told by primary sources that have been
created during the events, and acquired afterward. These sources are first-hand accounts of the
events and happenings; they provide concrete information of the affairs that to this day, give us a
better understanding of the causes and effects of the movements.
One of the primary sources I chose to further analyze for this research, are letters written
to the King of Portugal by the King of the Congo in 1526. In his letters, the King of the Congo,
King Afonso, emphasizes the need of assistance by King Joao with Portuguese merchants and
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slave traders. In his letters, he asks that he control said merchants and what they sell around the
community. More importantly, he asks King Joao, to restrict his people from taking freed men
from his kingdoms, branding, and selling them as slaves.
He writes, They kidnap many of our free or freed black subjects, even nobles, sons of
noblemen and even our relatives. They sell them to the white men who are in our
kingdom after having delivered their prisoners in secret or during the night in order not to
be recognized (Course Reader 15).
This source specifically displays the idea that free or already freed Africans were often
kidnapped and abducted, only to be enslaved and sold to other white men. Given the era of
which the letters were written, the Atlantic Slave Trade was a prominent operation; one where
black men and women were being taken not only across the Atlantic, but within the continent of
Africa itself. Also enclosed in the letters, it is suggested that the slavery of African men and
women was not entirely done by European or white men. King Afonso hints at freed men, and
proposes that he, and under his jurisdiction, has had black subjects as well (Course Reader 15).
The letters from one king to another about the capture, enslaving, and trade of African
men and women gave history an inside look on the culture of the Atlantic Slave Trade. Primary
sources repeatedly provide documentation and authentic details; James Barbot Jr., the son and
nephew of slave traders wrote about the management duties he had over ships transporting
slaves. In his documentation, he authenticates the instances where those enslaved rebelled.
In his observations, he writes, Others had pieces of iron they had torn off our forecastle door,
as having premeditated a revolt, they had also broken off the shackles from several of their
companions feet (Course Reader 19). Here, Barbot, discloses information about the rebellion
that happened on his ship. In another instance he mentions that many of them provided knives,
which we had indiscreetly given them (Course Reader 19). He says that the sailors had
provided them knives unknowing that they would rebel and use the knives against them. In this,

the source confesses a part the Atlantic Slave Trade that involved rebellions of the enslaved.
Often, however, these rebellions did not do much rectitude, as the observation later states, many
of the enslaved, as well as a few sailors died. Thus we lost twenty seven or twenty eight slaves,
he notes, either killd by us, or drownd; and having masterd them, caused all to go betwixt
decks, giving them good words. (Course Reader 19).
It was common for these rebellions to happen on these ships with the outcome of many
deaths; however, it was much more common that the traders separated the slaves by gender.
He states, As to the management of our slaves aboard, we lodge the two sexes apart, by means
of a strong partition of the main mast; the forepart is for men, the other behind the mast for
women (Course Reader 20). As it was, the Atlantic Slave Trade involved the slavery of both
African men and women, proving that both genders were taken and sold throughout the world.
This part of the source gives history a look on what the command of the ships consisted of (in
this case, the different genders on board). The source, however, does not tell us specifically why
the management kept the genders separate. I could have been a health issue, as later mentioned;
or simply to keep the slaves in order, and reject and strip any means of liberty.
This specific primary source about the on-board management of slaves is just one
account on how the transportation of men and women were carried out. Other sources like the
Virginia Slave Code, provide an account of what the laws demanded once at their destination.
The Virginia Slave Code, 1705, was placed to ensure the discipline on the power and
behavior of slaves at a time where African slaves and indentured servants were beginning to be
the common practice.
The Virginia Slave Code is a prominent example of a primary source, these laws passed
by the state government hindered the amount of freedom and liberty that black men and women
were given or allowed. The laws also restricted non-whites from having power in government
related jobs no matter their standings free men and women or not.

In 1705, when the laws were most prominent, it was also common to those of the New
World to favor Christianity as the culminating religion. For example, one of the first measures
carried out by the law declared that
All servants brought into this country without indenture, if the said servants be
Christians and of Christian parentage, and above nineteen years of age, shall serve but
five years; and if under nineteen years of age, till they shall become twenty-four years of
age, and no longer (Course Reader 23).
This direct quote from the Slave Code suggested that those in the state of Virginia, placed
religion at the utmost priority, regardless of skin color. Furthermore, placing those non-white
people, slaves/servants or not, who followed their Christian practices, at a better advantage of
those who did not. Those that followed their same religion were allowed a fewer amount of a
slave period.
In addition to the benefits that Christian servants were given, it was also common that
their punishments were also less demeaning. The law states, neither shall at any time whip a
Christian white servants naked without an order from a justice of the peace (Courser Reader
23). Here, the law is stating that white servants (specifically Christian), under no circumstance,
should be forced into the same amount of excessive punishment as those of color and/or nonChristian beliefs.
By the eighteenth century, African slaves began to make up the majority of slaves on
farms and plantations (Campbell). At most importance, though, the rebellions on plantations and
farms by slaves fueled the freedom, rights, and abolition of slavery. Nonetheless, escaped slaves
and rebellions often and eventually led to harsher treatment, laws, and punishment.
The letters and records that William Bull, governor of South Carolina, addressed back to
England about the Stono Rebellion, give us a prevailing outlook at how these rebellions usually
played out (Course Reader 37). William writes, a great number of negroes arose in rebellion,
killed twenty one white persons, and were marching, killing all they met and burning several
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houses as they passed along (Course Reader 37). In this passage, he describes what the uprising
consisted of; it was obvious that the slaves had much intention and knowledge about their actions
and plans. Still, though, the rebellion was eventually put to an end and there were much harsher
times ahead. He follows with, the militia killed and took so many as to put a stop to any further
mischief; forty four of them have been killed and executed; few yet remain concealed in the
woods expecting the same fate (Course Reader 37). As imagined, disobedience was always put
to an end, the white persons managed to still raise oppression and persecution. This primary
source defends the theory in history that suggests that rebellions were managed and suppressed.
The Atlantic Slave Trade managed to carry all of kidnappings, branding and slavery, as
well as rebellions, punishment and control until the final abolition of slavery.