Slavery and the Formation of the Atlantic World

Readings: Smith, et al., 570-577, 732-750, 766-767, 819-820

Slavery and the Making of an Atlantic Economy

Coastal Africans so wealthy from slave trade, can keep Europeans out

Do allow Europeans to establish forts along coast

Slaves collected at prisons in these forts for overseas voyage

Portugal, Spain, England, France, the Dutch all have forts

Elmina Fort

Atlantic Slave Trade

18th Century Alone:

400,000 slaves imported into North America

1 million slaves imported into Spanish America

More than 1 million slaves imported into the Caribbean, including the French Caribbean (Saint Domingue, Guadeloupe, Martinique)

More than 3 million slaves imported into Brazil

Impact of Slavery Europeans became very

wealthy from slave trade alone

Africans became enchained

Many Africans die before arrival and many more very sick

The attitude towards slaves was worse than animals

Dead/rebellious slaves thrown overboard—slavers collect insurance

Across the Ocean Used for Agricultural

Labor on plantations – sugar, rum, cotton, coffee, tobacco, indigo, cacao (chocolate)

Used also in mining (gold, silver, diamonds)

Produced 1/3 of the Value of European commerce

Saint Domingue (Haiti) Saint Domingue (Haiti) was maybe the worst

Mostly produced sugar; tobacco also important It was cheaper to work the slaves to death and buy new

ones than to take care of them Main form of resistance: creation of maroon societies It had heavy African influence

Society in Saint Domingue

Much race mingling Much emancipation on the

death of slave owner: Rise of free wealthy

landowning Mulattos: General George Dumas-

freed slave, father of Alexandre

Wanted preservation of slavery

Wanted to be treated as equals of white planters

Whites, especially poor whites, hated them

Brazil Similar to Saint Domingue 17th C: Main crop sugar,

cashasa 18th C: gold, diamonds 19th C: coffee Worked slaves to death Early Slave revolt where

the slaves refused to eat. Many new Africans Constant revolts--quilimbos Much race mixing Slavery abolished in 1888.

Engenho – Site of Sugar Production

Prayer of St. Francis – Bahian Chuches dedicated to Saint Francis?

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace, Where there is hatred, let me sow love;where there is injury, pardon;where there is doubt, faith;where there is despair, hope;where there is darkness, light;where there is sadness, joy;

How did Portuguese Christians reconcile their religion with their treatment of slaves?

Portuguese in the World Economy-Items found in 18th C Shipwreck Near Bahia

United States—the South Big crop—tobacco—”the

sot weed” – later cotton Rice – introduced by

Africans Encouraged slave

breeding so there was less direct African influence-few slave imports after the 18th century

Compared to Saint Domingue and Brazil,

Slave birth rates relatively high

Slave death rates relatively low

Was Slavery “Better” in the U.S.?

Extreme open antipathy to race-mixing Anti-

mescegination laws

But ….

Impact of Slavery in the Americas

Ecology: Rice introduced

from Africa Medicinal/healing

plants Economy:

Plantation economy – new crops

Language: Pidgeon creole

Religious Impact in the Americas

Saint Domingue/Haiti:Vudon

Cuba, Spanish America: Santeria

Brazil: Macumba, Condomble,

Islam, Catholicism (African Church – Bahia)

U.S. South: Methodist Episcopal

Church, Gospel Churches

Religious Syncretism in Brazil

Creation of new hybrid beliefs joining African, Christian, and perhaps some native religion Slaves from West

Africans identified their deities (orixãs) with Christian saints

Yemaja – spirit of the seas associated with the Virgin Mary

Xango – God of Thunder

African Influences in the Americas

Dance: Capoeira, Samba (Brazil), Tango (Argentina), Salsa, Merengue

Music: Reggae Much American “folk”

music Blues Jazz Rock Hip Hop World Music

Slavery and Racism

Renaissance paintings include Africans as equals.

Race became linked with color in the Americas.

How Europeans justified slavery?

The Bible Curse of the “Sons of Ham,” Noah’s son – descendants to be slaves of his brothers

Economy/ Property

“Civilizing” Mission

Growing Racism

Forces to end slavery

Abolitionist Movements

Slave Revolts Quakers Some

Enlightenment Thinkers

Economically unprofitable?

Wars