The Slave Trade - AP European History

1. What was the primary destination for enslaved Africans transported across the Atlantic?

   The Caribbean and Brazil. These regions had extensive sugar plantations requiring large labor forces.

2. Which industry in Europe significantly benefited from the slave trade?

   The textile industry. Slave-produced cotton was essential for European textile manufacturing.

3. What role did African leaders play in the slave trade?

   Some participated by capturing and selling slaves. African rulers and merchants were essential partners in the slave trade.

4. What was the primary labor performed by enslaved Africans in the Caribbean?

   Sugar cultivation. Caribbean sugar plantations relied heavily on enslaved African labor.

5. What year did the British Parliament pass the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act?

   1807. Ended Britain's participation in the slave trade but not slavery itself.

6. Which African kingdom was heavily involved in the slave trade?

   The Kingdom of Dahomey. West African kingdom that profited from capturing and selling slaves.

7. Name the first European power to formally abolish the slave trade.

   Denmark. Denmark banned slave trading in 1803, effective from 1808.

8. What was the primary agricultural product of the slave-based economy in the American South?

   Cotton. Cotton plantations in the American South depended on slave labor.

9. Which European nation dominated the slave trade in the 17th century?

   The Netherlands. Dutch West India Company controlled much of the Atlantic slave trade.

10. What was a common condition experienced by enslaved Africans during the Middle Passage?

    Overcrowding. Enslaved people were packed tightly in ship holds like cargo.

11. Which European country abolished slavery in its colonies in 1848?

    France. Second Republic abolished slavery in all French territories permanently.

12. Which European country's colonies in the Americas had the largest number of enslaved Africans?

    Portugal. Brazil received the largest number of enslaved Africans in the Americas.

13. Identify the primary economic system that benefited from the slave trade.

    Mercantilism. Economic system emphasizing national wealth through favorable trade balances.

14. Identify the African port that was a major departure point for slave ships.

    Elmina. Major Gold Coast fortress and slave trading post in present-day Ghana.

15. Which European country first initiated the transatlantic slave trade?

    Portugal. Began slave trading in the 15th century along the West African coast.

16. Name the slave rebellion that took place in the French colony of Saint-Domingue.

    The Haitian Revolution. 1791-1804 revolution that ended slavery and created independent Haiti.

17. What was the main cargo transported from the Americas to Europe in the triangular trade?

    Sugar, tobacco, and cotton. Slave-produced commodities that generated enormous profits for Europeans.

18. Identify the 19th-century movement dedicated to ending the slave trade.

    Abolitionism. Movement that ultimately led to the end of legal slavery.

19. Identify the term used to describe the voyage of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic Ocean.

    The Middle Passage. The horrific journey across the Atlantic where millions died in ship holds.

20. Which Enlightenment thinker criticized the slave trade in his writings?

    Voltaire. Enlightenment philosopher who condemned slavery as morally wrong.

21. What was the primary factor leading to the decline of the transatlantic slave trade?

    Growing abolitionist movements. Moral opposition to slavery grew stronger in the late 18th century.

22. Which European power established the first permanent settlement in Brazil?

    Portugal. Portugal colonized Brazil and brought millions of enslaved Africans there.

23. What was the primary justification used by Europeans for the slave trade?

    Belief in racial superiority. Racist ideology used to justify enslaving African people.

24. What impact did the slave trade have on African societies?

    It led to social disruption and demographic changes. Millions were taken, weakening communities and altering political structures.

25. What was the Treaty of Utrecht's impact on the slave trade?

    It granted Britain the asiento, a monopoly on slave trade to Spanish America. 1713 treaty gave Britain exclusive rights to supply Spanish colonies.

26. Identify the 19th-century British politician who was a leading abolitionist.

    William Wilberforce. British MP who led the parliamentary campaign against slave trade.

27. What legal status did enslaved individuals have in European law during the slave trade?

    Property, not persons. Enslaved people were legally considered movable property, not human beings.

28. What was the legal status of children born to enslaved women in the Americas?

    They were born into slavery. Children inherited the enslaved status of their mothers.

29. Identify the European port city that was a major hub for the slave trade.

    Liverpool. Major English port where slave ships were financed and equipped.

30. Which economic theory justified European colonization and the slave trade?

    Mercantilism. Economic theory that encouraged colonial exploitation for national profit.

31. Which European city was known for its early abolitionist movements?

    London. Center of British abolitionist activity and parliamentary campaigns.

32. Which commodity was often exchanged for enslaved Africans in West Africa?

    Guns. European firearms were traded to African rulers for enslaved people.

33. Name the 18th-century abolitionist who was a former enslaved African.

    Olaudah Equiano. Wrote 'The Interesting Narrative' describing his experiences in slavery.

34. What was the Zong Massacre?

    An incident where enslaved Africans were thrown overboard from a ship. 1781 case where 132 Africans were murdered for insurance money.

35. Which religious group was prominently involved in the abolitionist movement?

    Quakers. Religious group that opposed slavery on moral and Christian grounds.

36. What was the triangular trade?

    A three-legged network involving Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Goods flowed between continents: manufactured goods, slaves, and raw materials.

37. What was the main economic motive for European involvement in the transatlantic slave trade?

    To acquire cheap labor for plantations in the Americas. Plantation agriculture in the Caribbean and Americas required intensive manual labor.

38. What percentage of enslaved Africans did not survive the Middle Passage?

    Approximately 15-20%. Horrific mortality rate due to disease, violence, and brutal conditions.

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