Chapter 2, Section 3

Landing and Sale in the West Indies

Slaves were allowed to : 1. shave2. wash with fresh

water3. exercise

s were given time to rest on the islands of the West Indies, usually Martinique or Barbados.

Preparing for Sale

At the market slaves were closely inspected.

In order to make the slaves look more healthy captains would: 1. dye hair

2. oil their bodies3. use hemp to block the discharge

of dysentery

Market

Captains would land in the West Indies with their cargo and haggled over prices and numbers.

It took between a few days to weeks to sell all of the slaves.

Sometimes one buyer would take a whole cargo, otherwise auctions took place

The “scramble” would also be used to sell individual slaves. One price for men and one for women, then rope together desired slaves.

Creoles-slaves born in the Americas (most valuable)

Old Africans- those who had lived in the Americas for sometime

New Africans- those who had just survived the middle passage (also known as “salt-water Negros” or “Guinea-birds”)

Types of Slaves

Inspections

Seasoning was a period of up to two years when slaves would learn plantation routines.

North American planter preferred “seasoned” slaves to “unbroken” ones .

The demand for slaves in the West Indies became so great by 1720 that slaves were not seasoned before arriving in North America.

Seasoning

1. Given new names (Christian, African, or Greek)

2. Learn a new language

3. Learn how to labor

Steps of Seasoning

1. Great gang- strongest men, did heavy field work of planting and harvesting.

2. Second gang- women and older men, light field work.

3. Third gang- mostly children, worked shorter hours bringing food and water to the field workers.

4. Domestic servants- did house work.

Working

1. Survival

2. Adaptation to new food and climate

3. Learned the new language

4. Stopped being suicidal and accepted their new role in life.

Criteria for Seasoning to be considered Successful

The cruelty of the Atlantic Slave Trade contributed to its end.

The British stopped depending on it economically in the late 1700s.

The British abolished the slave trade in 1807, the United States did the same in 1808.

It was Guinea and western Central Africa that fought to keep the trade going because their economies depended on it.

Ending the Atlantic Slave Trade

1. What happened to Africans after they crossed the Atlantic?

2. What was seasoning and why was it used?3. How did masters treat slaves in the

Americas?4. Why did the Atlantic slave trade end?

Questions p. 58-62