The Introduction of Slavery into the Americas

Essay by ~sw~High School, 10th gradeA, March 2010

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The African Slave trade (more commonly referred to as the Triangle Trade) was the main support of the English trade with the Americas, in 1745 according to a British author. Without the slave trade, the American society would never be the same. With the extremely large profits turned by the English, French, Spanish, Dutch, and Portuguese the economy skyrocketed on the slave market. All three continents affected by the African Slave Trade were culturally diffused, spreading the ideas and knowledge across the globe. Without this practice, the Americas would never be so wealthy, powerful, and populated by the Europeans.

The introduction of African slavery in the new world began when the demand became exceedingly high: the need for slaves was growing. As Portuguese and Spanish colonies in Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean expanded their gold and silver mines, as well their prosperous sugarcane plantations, workers were becoming insufficient.

Sugarcane is extremely important in the slave trade (as well as the wealth and prosperity of the Europeans) because it is the main ingredient in rum: the alcoholic drink of preference in Europe. Sugarcane was also sold from druggists because it was considered an expensive medicine back in the Middle Ages. The demand for slavery was extremely high in the Americas because the local people were very lazy, as well as not immune for diseases. These two variables combined do not make very productive work (thus not making as much money). The Africans, however, were more resistant to European diseases (being from the same continent), were more abundant in Africa, and the profits were enormous with the African Slave Trade. Portugal and Spain were the first countries to embrace slavery in the New World.

It was not until approximately thirty years later that the English joined the slave...