AP US History in 1 Minute Daily: Transatlantic Slave Trade (Day 12/309)

Welcome to day 12 of APUSH in 1 Minute Daily!

Today I will be explaining the history behind the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

Population Collapse in Mexico National Library of Medicine

Due to the high death rates of American Indians, the Spanish began to demand a new labor force to continue their accumulation of wealth in the Americas.

Elmina Castle 1572, Wikimedia Commons

The Portuguese were the first to capitalize on the existing system of slavery used by African societies. Europeans provided valuable goods, such as firearms and textiles, to African traders who facilitated the capture and sale of enslaved individuals.

Where African Enslaved People Came From Statista

The slave trade had profound social and economic consequences including the disruption of local communities, political instability, and it incentivized increased raiding and warfare.

Plan of Slave Ship Encyclopedia Britannica

After their capture, Africans were trafficked across the Atlantic on the horrific Middle Passage. The Spanish colonies quickly became dependent upon the labor of enslaved Africans, primarily in plantations and mines. 

From the 16th to the 18th century, at least 2.5 million Africans were enslaved in the Spanish North American colonies.

Join me tomorrow as I explain demographic changes and the Caste System in our next APUSH in 1 Minute Daily!