How did Slavery in the Americas Happen - Mapped
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Date: 2026-04-12
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Comments and reviews: 20
CARL_093
The Atlantic slave trade was driven by an immense demand for labor on American plantations (sugar, tobacco, cotton) and in mining, largely fueled by European colonial expansion. Due to a massive decline in indigenous populations from disease, Europeans turned to Africa for enslaved labor, facilitated by ocean-going technology, to drive economic development
Massive Labor Demand: As Europeans colonized the Americas, they needed a vast workforce for intense plantation agriculture (sugar, coffee, cotton) and resource extraction.
Failure of Other Labor Sources: Indigenous populations died in vast numbers due to European diseases, and there were insufficient numbers of European indentured servants to meet the demand.
The Triangular Trade System: This economic system linked Europe, Africa, and the Americas. European manufactured goods (guns, textiles) were traded in Africa for enslaved people, who were transported to the Americas, and their raw materials were shipped back to Europe for profit.
African Political and Economic Factors: Some African leaders and merchants participated in the trade, exchanging captivesoften prisoners of war or criminalsfor European goods and weapons, often to maintain their own power or due to pressure from European traders.
Profitability and Economic Incentive: The trade was highly profitable, with many voyages yielding profits of 15%20%, making it a major driver of economic prosperity for European coastal ports and colonial powers.
Technological Advancement: Advancements in maritime technology (shipbuilding and navigation) made it possible to conduct regular, large-scale voyages across the Atlantic.
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The Atlantic slave trade was driven by an immense demand for labor on American plantations (sugar, tobacco, cotton) and in mining, largely fueled by European colonial expansion. Due to a massive decline in indigenous populations from disease, Europeans turned to Africa for enslaved labor, facilitated by ocean-going technology, to drive economic development
Massive Labor Demand: As Europeans colonized the Americas, they needed a vast workforce for intense plantation agriculture (sugar, coffee, cotton) and resource extraction.
Failure of Other Labor Sources: Indigenous populations died in vast numbers due to European diseases, and there were insufficient numbers of European indentured servants to meet the demand.
The Triangular Trade System: This economic system linked Europe, Africa, and the Americas. European manufactured goods (guns, textiles) were traded in Africa for enslaved people, who were transported to the Americas, and their raw materials were shipped back to Europe for profit.
African Political and Economic Factors: Some African leaders and merchants participated in the trade, exchanging captivesoften prisoners of war or criminalsfor European goods and weapons, often to maintain their own power or due to pressure from European traders.
Profitability and Economic Incentive: The trade was highly profitable, with many voyages yielding profits of 15%20%, making it a major driver of economic prosperity for European coastal ports and colonial powers.
Technological Advancement: Advancements in maritime technology (shipbuilding and navigation) made it possible to conduct regular, large-scale voyages across the Atlantic.
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goenqe1783
Well - there is a reason as to why the slaves were loaded on to ships imidiatly after arrival. The shipcrew were from the west right. with western climate, and then traveled down into a very hostile invioment with no resistance towards the destructive varm climate! Even during the short time they were at the beach, many got sick in all sorts of ways. and some never left the beaches also. NOW This worked the other way for the Africans that arrived in the ports aswell. If sick shipcrew members made it home again, the would have infected other crewmembers aswell on the journey home. aswell a as slaves. after they had returned the African slaves now also found themselves in hostile invoiment with no resistance that had developed in their bodies. So it went -->
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Well - there is a reason as to why the slaves were loaded on to ships imidiatly after arrival. The shipcrew were from the west right. with western climate, and then traveled down into a very hostile invioment with no resistance towards the destructive varm climate! Even during the short time they were at the beach, many got sick in all sorts of ways. and some never left the beaches also. NOW This worked the other way for the Africans that arrived in the ports aswell. If sick shipcrew members made it home again, the would have infected other crewmembers aswell on the journey home. aswell a as slaves. after they had returned the African slaves now also found themselves in hostile invoiment with no resistance that had developed in their bodies. So it went -->
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soulofham
It truly started when morocco invaded songhai west africa because the trans saharan trade ended when europeans founded the americas. African slave were much more important to transport to the new world. Youu can see on many graphs when songhai west africa ended the slave trade reached its peak. the blockade of africa ended it thanks to the british navy operating. Many independence movements in latin america ended slavery too. The john wayne undefeated is about confederates trying to start slavery in mexico under a monarchy after the usa civil war. Crossing the andes by a group of black men started the latin america war of independence which ended slavery.
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It truly started when morocco invaded songhai west africa because the trans saharan trade ended when europeans founded the americas. African slave were much more important to transport to the new world. Youu can see on many graphs when songhai west africa ended the slave trade reached its peak. the blockade of africa ended it thanks to the british navy operating. Many independence movements in latin america ended slavery too. The john wayne undefeated is about confederates trying to start slavery in mexico under a monarchy after the usa civil war. Crossing the andes by a group of black men started the latin america war of independence which ended slavery.
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MyWileycoyote
Just an FYI: The native population of Hispaniola was not 250, 000-1, 000, 000. This is an out of date estimate. Recent work at David Reich's lab when using genetics shows it was about 10, 000-50, 000 at most, with a catastrophic decline starting with the flu pandemic of 1493. Spanish sources were infamous for exaggerating numbers to either attract settlers or make it seem that their conquests were Divinely determined. Francisco Moya Mons, a dominican archaeologist, claimed the population was, at maximum, 250, 000 given the limits of the farming system, but even this was proven to be too high by a factor of 10.
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Just an FYI: The native population of Hispaniola was not 250, 000-1, 000, 000. This is an out of date estimate. Recent work at David Reich's lab when using genetics shows it was about 10, 000-50, 000 at most, with a catastrophic decline starting with the flu pandemic of 1493. Spanish sources were infamous for exaggerating numbers to either attract settlers or make it seem that their conquests were Divinely determined. Francisco Moya Mons, a dominican archaeologist, claimed the population was, at maximum, 250, 000 given the limits of the farming system, but even this was proven to be too high by a factor of 10.
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billlyell8322
Brutal How about the the 1000 year Muslim slave trade that castrated men in filty conditions How about the century of fighting the Muslims did where they dumped chained living slaves into the ocean to escape western ships trying to end slavery. What about all those slaves What about muslin slavers that would bash the head of a baby against a rock if it slowed down a slave caravan How about those tens 9f millions of death and mutilation. What about the black Muslims that enslaved at least three times the number 9f whites than were ever brought to the british colonies here in america
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Brutal How about the the 1000 year Muslim slave trade that castrated men in filty conditions How about the century of fighting the Muslims did where they dumped chained living slaves into the ocean to escape western ships trying to end slavery. What about all those slaves What about muslin slavers that would bash the head of a baby against a rock if it slowed down a slave caravan How about those tens 9f millions of death and mutilation. What about the black Muslims that enslaved at least three times the number 9f whites than were ever brought to the british colonies here in america
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SchoolVideosGoHere
The comments:
- this makes me feel guilty, stop
- it's the African's fault
- ignoring the differences in Chattel slavery and the video's frank explanations of all the parties in this horrific trade
- anti-semitism
- blame the Spanish and Portuguese for being worse
- there's slavery still so this doesn't matter (ignoring the US prison system of course)
- but the Arabs and Africans started it!
Anything, but to say slavery was wrong and I wish my country hadn't done it and I'm sorry for those it hurt.
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The comments:
- this makes me feel guilty, stop
- it's the African's fault
- ignoring the differences in Chattel slavery and the video's frank explanations of all the parties in this horrific trade
- anti-semitism
- blame the Spanish and Portuguese for being worse
- there's slavery still so this doesn't matter (ignoring the US prison system of course)
- but the Arabs and Africans started it!
Anything, but to say slavery was wrong and I wish my country hadn't done it and I'm sorry for those it hurt.
reply
js6-452
Slavery still exists in every country in Africa to this day, this includes forced marriage. There was a market for slavery and captors were turning a profit selling these slaves to anybody who had use for them. Africa facilitated selling slaves, they sold their own. Still do.
Meanwhile slavery has been abolished in the west. Why are demonstrators causing unrest in the west when slavery exists elsewhere.
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Slavery still exists in every country in Africa to this day, this includes forced marriage. There was a market for slavery and captors were turning a profit selling these slaves to anybody who had use for them. Africa facilitated selling slaves, they sold their own. Still do.
Meanwhile slavery has been abolished in the west. Why are demonstrators causing unrest in the west when slavery exists elsewhere.
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JohnInCali
The easy answer Europe became to civilized and you could no longer pillage the land because growth was becoming centralized with castles and defenses that made the cost to great. So they went to Africa because they were behind the times and easy to take slaves and it became easier once Africa started capturing their own and selling them known as the Atlantic trade
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The easy answer Europe became to civilized and you could no longer pillage the land because growth was becoming centralized with castles and defenses that made the cost to great. So they went to Africa because they were behind the times and easy to take slaves and it became easier once Africa started capturing their own and selling them known as the Atlantic trade
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dominiclong2422
You all’s numbers are off, the estimated total of enslaved people that made it over and were thrown over board are recently projected to be 6-7 times the number you all stated: approx. 50 million survived: 20 million died during voyage. The voyage was far worse in shear scale and horror than what citizens in modern societies can either stomach or fathom
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You all’s numbers are off, the estimated total of enslaved people that made it over and were thrown over board are recently projected to be 6-7 times the number you all stated: approx. 50 million survived: 20 million died during voyage. The voyage was far worse in shear scale and horror than what citizens in modern societies can either stomach or fathom
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robertnichols2283
Why
Let me guess:
Supply and demand, ie.
1) extensive plantations in the New World, that relied on slave labor to be profitable, creating a huge demand for slaves
2) a large population of potential slaves in west Africa (in contrast to the sparse population of native Americans- because they had been nearly exterminated by now)
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Why
Let me guess:
Supply and demand, ie.
1) extensive plantations in the New World, that relied on slave labor to be profitable, creating a huge demand for slaves
2) a large population of potential slaves in west Africa (in contrast to the sparse population of native Americans- because they had been nearly exterminated by now)
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drooples76
Anyone can look up all the locations of the slave ports in the new world and all the locations of the oldest synagogues in the new world and see for yourself they are the same. Also, Columbus was a J and his brother started the very first slave colony. Blaming White Europeans for slavery is such a J trick.
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Anyone can look up all the locations of the slave ports in the new world and all the locations of the oldest synagogues in the new world and see for yourself they are the same. Also, Columbus was a J and his brother started the very first slave colony. Blaming White Europeans for slavery is such a J trick.
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flashpromo15
YOU SAYS ITS THE LARGEST TRADE SLAVE IN HISTORY BUT Knowledgia DONT FORGET THE ARAB SLAVE TRADE WAS FAR LONGER AND WENT ACROSS MULTIPLE DIFFERENT CULTURES ACTUALLY IT WAS DATED TO AROUND AFTER MOHAMMADS INVASIONS 600ISH-700ISH CE UP UNTIL THE AMERICAN WIN OF THE BARBARY PIRATES EARLY 1800S
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YOU SAYS ITS THE LARGEST TRADE SLAVE IN HISTORY BUT Knowledgia DONT FORGET THE ARAB SLAVE TRADE WAS FAR LONGER AND WENT ACROSS MULTIPLE DIFFERENT CULTURES ACTUALLY IT WAS DATED TO AROUND AFTER MOHAMMADS INVASIONS 600ISH-700ISH CE UP UNTIL THE AMERICAN WIN OF THE BARBARY PIRATES EARLY 1800S
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jvoutsas
No one is going to like this leftist propaganda video that fails to mention that slavery existed for thousands of years before the Atlantic slave trade started and the Europeans were the only major civilization to ban slavery in the 1800s.
Boo. Boo I say.
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No one is going to like this leftist propaganda video that fails to mention that slavery existed for thousands of years before the Atlantic slave trade started and the Europeans were the only major civilization to ban slavery in the 1800s.
Boo. Boo I say.
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faenethlorhalien
Why Because it's cheaper to enslave other people to do your job than to do it yourself or to pay other people. Slavery is one of the oldest traditions, probably starting even before humans were humans. Asking why it happened is a bit of a weird thing.
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Why Because it's cheaper to enslave other people to do your job than to do it yourself or to pay other people. Slavery is one of the oldest traditions, probably starting even before humans were humans. Asking why it happened is a bit of a weird thing.
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dantetre
On March 25, 2026, the United States, along with Argentina and Israel, voted against a United Nations General Assembly resolution declaring the transatlantic slave trade the gravest crime against humanity
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On March 25, 2026, the United States, along with Argentina and Israel, voted against a United Nations General Assembly resolution declaring the transatlantic slave trade the gravest crime against humanity
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vesavius
TL; DR: It could only happen because European traders tapped into African and Arab slave networks that had already existed for centuries. Africans sold Africans because slavery was culturally acceptable.
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TL; DR: It could only happen because European traders tapped into African and Arab slave networks that had already existed for centuries. Africans sold Africans because slavery was culturally acceptable.
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rhyfan2026
Slavery was already in the colonies. Indians enslaved other tribes, Irish and Scotts were also enslaved and brought over. So sick of the black narrative of we wuz slaves, theirnown people sold them
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Slavery was already in the colonies. Indians enslaved other tribes, Irish and Scotts were also enslaved and brought over. So sick of the black narrative of we wuz slaves, theirnown people sold them
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tony5ify249
They sell their own people yet its our fault lol. We never talk about the african slave trade or the arab one. Let's remember that the abolition of slavery only happened on western countries.
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They sell their own people yet its our fault lol. We never talk about the african slave trade or the arab one. Let's remember that the abolition of slavery only happened on western countries.
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8rlx0
Going from Europe to Africa with trade goods, buying slaves, shipping across Atlantic, selling slaves, buying materials and shipping back to Europe was extremely profitable and efficient cycle.
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Going from Europe to Africa with trade goods, buying slaves, shipping across Atlantic, selling slaves, buying materials and shipping back to Europe was extremely profitable and efficient cycle.
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ZYXPQI
The only reason north america didn't get obliterated by European smallpox is that the south americans had connections, roads and were far less normadic than than their northern counterparts
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The only reason north america didn't get obliterated by European smallpox is that the south americans had connections, roads and were far less normadic than than their northern counterparts
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