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Transatlantic Slave Trade

Definition

The Transatlantic Slave Trade was a mass human trafficking system where Africans were forcibly transported across the Atlantic Ocean to work as slaves in the Americas from the 16th to 19th centuries.

Analogy

Think of it like a horrific conveyor belt that only moved in one direction. Just as a conveyor belt in a factory moves products from one place to another, the Transatlantic Slave Trade moved people against their will from Africa to America. But unlike a factory, there was no return trip for these individuals.

Related terms

Middle Passage: This term refers to the second leg of the triangular trade route used by European ships during the Transatlantic Slave Trade, where enslaved Africans were transported across the Atlantic Ocean to North and South America.

Triangular Trade: This is an economic model that describes how goods and slaves moved between Europe, Africa, and America during colonial times. It's called "triangular" because if you map out the routes on a globe they form a triangle shape.

Abolitionism: This is a movement that sought to end slavery. Abolitionists believed slavery was morally wrong and fought for its eradication through political and social means.