Black Profit: Economic Reasons of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and its End - Essay Example

Black Profit: Economic Reasons of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and its End Introduction One of the most notable historical accounts is the transatlantic slave trade; wherein the pillars of several ideologies and philosophies sprouted. It has been noted that the relationship between Africa and Europe was mainly economic in nature even before the slave trade, adapting the barter system as a means of obtaining goods (Davidson 1961). There has been a historic relationship between Europe and Africa, consequently followed by America upon its discovery by Christopher Columbus. The discovery of the “New World” has brought danger to people from Africa and the “newly discovered” people (Obadina 2008). This paper will examine the economic relations of Africa during the trans-Atlantic slave trade, its effects on Africa, Europe and the Americas and the story why was it put to an end if it means the flourishing of most European lands. Reasons, Abolition, and Effects of Slavery in Africa and the Nations Participating in the Trade Largely on Economy European expeditions were largely due to their country’s lack of wanted commodities such as Africa’s gold and other “traditionally acquired” African goods which were gained through maritime trading (Walvin 2007). Europe has been interested in gold and spices gained from their expeditions until the rise of sugar plantations. Tea and coffee (bitter without sugar) was the trademark of European food culture. These types of beverages became popular, and as it achieves popularity among Europeans, the demand for sugar continues to rise. The constant improvement of sugar plantations marks the beginning of the widespread Trans-Atlantic slave trade. Trans-Atlantic Slave trade system was regarded as the “first system of globalization,” and the largest number of deportation history noted (Adi, Shahada & Nehusi 2005). There were an estimated 25 million people who were forced to leave Africa and the effect of this depopulation is still the source of struggle until now (Adi 2010). The discovery of the New World introduced Europe to several products they would not have produced on their own. Like coffee and tea, several European and American goods were inseparable with sugar. An ongoing demand for African slaves gradually increased because products from the New World had slowly gained popularity among Europeans. Sugar, tobacco, rice, indigo, and cotton were commodities needed in European societies and the rise of demand would also mean a larger plantation labor force. Africans were more preferable than that of the European workers because they could survive the tropical plantations in the Americas. The Europeans on the other hand were “susceptible to disease” in a tropical climate (Wright 2000). The lack of European workers, the continuous demand for labor, and the availability of African slaves pushed the slave trade to flourish, even if it means exploiting the indigenous cultural structure of most African communities. As argued by Williams (2010), the European business in those eras “promoted slavery as the primary source of labour.” The End of Slave Trade For five hundred years, Africans suffered from a hideous treatment by their European slavers; with the British noted as the cruelest among them. The involvement of the Dutch and other European explorers played a minor part during the 17th century (Postma as cited in Inikori 1992, p. 284). Other scholars believed that the main purpose of abolishing the slavery was not because of a “sudden enlightenment of the European rulers” about humanitarian concerns. Rather, it was still about economy and the question of “economic viability of the slave trade” (AllSands n.d.). The continuous expansion of sugar plantations has lead to sugar overproduction; thus, lowering the sugar price. Upon realizing that the sugar plantations were already less profitable, Britain has to venture on another business. They saw Africa as a nature filled with potential raw materials which can be used for manufacturing and freeing African slaves was an option they considered since they would need a large labor force to extract these resources from nature. “This labor force would have need for the type of goods the British were manufacturing, so raw materials could be exchanged for the manufactured goods from Britain” (AllSands n.d.). Economy was the primary reason for the abolition of slave trade, but the efforts of Africans to free themselves from slavery also played an important part. The emergence of different humanitarian campaigns, African resistance and economic reasons, the 500-year old slavery has come to an end (Liverpool Museums 2010). Abolitionism is a movement where the main goal is to end African slavery and set forth an equal treatment for the slaves. Ironically, it was the British who ended slavery, following the changing mindset of Europe at that time. Two of the most influential advocates in this movement are Thomas Clarkson and William Wilberforce; where the latter made the British parliamentary campaign “to end slavery” (Liverpool Museums 2010). After this resolution, slavery was a violation of the law, with the British navy as the strongest maritime force to make sure that the law is properly implemented. There were still several traders who adopt the system after the law had been passed; it was not after sixty years that the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade was completely eradicated. In the rise of modern philosophy and humanitarian ideals, the fight for equality for all races became the subject of improvements. Several members of the African-American society has gained prestige among others; a proof that the global village is open for all, regardless of the color. Effects of the Slave Trade Trans-Atlantic slave trade was one noted as the worst holocaust in African history. As the demand for production increases, the slavery business became highly profitable and consequently had effects on the prices of commodities in Africa (Bortolot 2003). Although this type of slavery has ended by the late 19th century, it’s effects were lasting and still experienced until now. According to Berry (cited in Inikori 1992, p. 26), slave trade has affected Africa that it “magnified social conflicts,” leading to a loss of population, and economic demise. Furthermore, famine has penetrated most communities due to declining productivity. In addition, Bortolot (2003) said that depopulation has changed the societal structure of Africa, leaving other African villages afflicted with severe famine. The most people being transported for slave trade were the men; although women and children were not as well exempted. This forced plight of African men has led women to take over the roles their husbands originally have. Traditions influenced by the slave trade are also prevalent as witchcraft was emphasized in the modern day African communities. The existence of “metaphysical fears concerning witchcraft” was believed to have stemmed from the trade. It was believed that a witch would capture individuals and turn them into slaves and “consume them.” The experiences from the trade played a major part in the social restructuring of Africa. In another note, African products, which were highly indigenous, became sophisticated and luxurious due to the continuous barter and extending influence of European culture. It was right when the Trans Atlantic slave trade was coined as the first means of globalization since the exchange of cultural fashion has altered not just Africa, but also the nations participating in the slave trade. Conclusion Slavery was not a new thing to the Africans even before the Europeans had changed the course of their living. The domination of the Europeans and the discovery of the New World have altered this natural way of life and turned it into something profitable. The word is business. Africans played a huge role in the determining the economy of the 15th century onwards. Although it took a while before the Africans achieved the freedom they have always desired, the fruits of their labor are evident in modern society. Bibliography Adi, Hakim, Shahada, Alik, & Nehusi, Kimani. 2005. “Trans Atlantic Slave Trade: Africa’s History did not Start in Slavery.” Accessed November 21, 2010. http://www.africanholocaust.net/articles/TRANSATLANTIC%20SLAVE%20TRAD E.htm. Adi, Hakim. 2010. “Africa and the transatlantic Slave Trade.” BBC. Accessed November 21, 2010. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/abolition/africa_article_01.shtml. AllSands. n.d. “The Death of Atlantic Slave Trade.” Accessed November 21, 2010. http://www.allsands.com/history/events/atlanticslavet_zyw_gn.htm. Bortolot, Alexander Ives. 2003. “The Transatlantic Slave Trade.” Accessed November 21, 2010. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/slav/hd_slav.htm. Davidson, Basil. 1961. The African Slave Trade: Precolonial History 1450-1850. Boston: Little Brown. Inikori, Joseph E. 1992. The Atlantic Slave Trade: Effects on Economies, Societies, and Peoples in Africa, the Americas, and Europe. North Carolina: Duke University Press. Liverpool Museums. 2010. “The Abolition of the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade.” Accessed November 22, 2010. http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/ism/slavery/europe/abolition.aspx. Obadina, Tunde. 2008. “Slave Trade: A Root of Contemporary African Crisis.” Accessed November 19. http://www.africaeconomicanalysis.org/articles/gen/slavehtm.html. Walvin, James. 2007. “Abolishing the Slave Trade.” Accessed November 20. http://www.history.ac.uk/ihr/Focus/Slavery/articles/walvin.html. Williams, Carolyn. 2010. “Am I Not a Man and a Brother? Am I not a Woman and a Sister?: the Trans Atlantic Crusade against the Slave Trade and Slavery.” Caribbean Quarterly 56: 107+. Wright, Donald R. 2000. Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia. Accessed November 17, 2010. http://autocww.colorado.edu/~blackmon/ E64ContentFiles/AfricanHistory/SlaveryInAfrica.html Read More