Global Studies
Name _____________________________________
The Transatlantic Slave Trade
Amistad Video Clip
WARNING: This video clip contains graphic images that viewers will find disturbing.
Consider the following questions while watching this video clip.
1. How does the main character become enslaved and how does he fall into the hands of the
Europeans?
2. Why does the filmmaker show a priest and whipping in the same scene?
3. Why did the filmmaker choose to include nudity?
4. Describe the music and its emotional impact.
5. What types of hardship did Africans experience during the Middle Passage?
6. What is the filmmaker implying with the crew dancing with the women?
7. Why did the woman jump overboard?
8. Why is the blood splattering on the man’s face so powerful?
9. What happens with the food? How do the characters react? What point is the filmmaker
making?
10. Why do you think some Africans are being thrown overboard?
11. What do you think is happening when the Africans’ bodies are being smeared with a white
substance?
12. What is the meaning of the name Bernardo?
13. What elements make this scene so powerful?
The Transatlantic Slave Trade Notes
1. Why did the Europeans want African slaves?
2. When did the transatlantic slave trade occur?
3. How many Africans were transported out of Africa?
4. Where did the enslaved Africans come from?
5. Where were the enslaved Africans taken?
6. Prior to the arrival of the Europeans, what was slavery like in Africa?
7. How did Europeans acquire African slaves?
8. Some people assert, “Africans sold their own people into slavery.” Is this a fair statement?
9. What was the middle passage? What were conditions like?
10. What was the triangular trade route?
11. What was the abolitionist movement? Who led it?
12. When was slavery abolished in Great Britain, the United States and Brazil?
13. What effects did the transatlantic slave trade have on Africa?
14. Which African countries did freed slaves found?
15. What did you learn that surprised you the most?
The Transatlantic Slave Trade Notes
1. Why did the Europeans want African slaves?
- to work in the plantations and mines in the Americas
2. When did the transatlantic slave trade occur?
- Primarily 1500s to 1800s
3. How many Africans were transported out of Africa?
-10-15 million
4. Where did the enslaved Africans come from?
- Most were from West Africa
5. Where were the enslaved Africans taken?
- Most went to Brazil and the West Indies
6. Prior to the arrival of the Europeans, what was slavery like in Africa?
- Not as widespread, taken in war or sold themselves into slavery
- Treated like servants
7. How did Europeans acquire African slaves?
- Traded guns and other goods
8. Some people assert, “Africans sold their own people into slavery.” Is this a fair statement?
- Africans sold people from other tribes into slavery
- European demand for slaves fueled slave trade
9. What was the middle passage? What were conditions like?
- 1 to 2 month journey across the Atlantic
- Chained, 12-16 inches of space, filth, disease, whippings, rape, murder
10. What was the triangular trade route?
- Trade route connecting Europe, Africa, and Americas
11. What was the abolitionist movement? Who led it?
- Movement to end slavery
- Led by religious whites, like Quakers, and free blacks
12. When was slavery abolished in Great Britain, the United States and Brazil?
- Britain: Slavery Abolition Act 1833
- US: 13th Amendment 1865
- Brazil: Golden Law 1888
13. What effects did the transatlantic slave trade have on Africa?
- Wars between African peoples
- Communities destroyed
-Traditional economic patterns changed
14. Which African countries did freed slaves found?
-Liberia founded by Americans
-Sierra Leone founded by British
15. What did you learn that surprised you the most?