The Middle Passage
Author: C. Renee Bos
Course/Level: African American Studies/US History
Materials:
 Student packet
 Student Background Essay and Questions
 THE INTERESTING NARRATIVE OF THE LIFE OF OLAUDAH EQUIANO,
1794, Courtesy of Library of Congress, Rare Book and Special Collections
Division http://www.pbs.org/wnet/slavery/experience/living/docs5.html

Diagram of Stowage of British Slave Ship Brooks, 1788, Library of
Congress, http://www.loc.gov/rr/rarebook/guide/ra023002.html

Extracts from John Newton's journal, The following extracts are from slave
trader John Newton's journal during the 'Middle Passage' voyage across the
Atlantic in 1754.
http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/ism/slavery/middle_passage/joh
n_newton.aspx

Corroboration Chart

Processing Assignment
 Teachers may wish to have a slide or allow students computer access to the
Brookes document. Being able to enlarge can be important. Alternatively, this
document can be considered optional, however, it is an excellent aid for
struggling or emergent readers who can garner success and confidence as well
as pertinent information from analyzing this source.
 Teacher Packet/Answer Key
HCPSS Curriculum Connections:
African American Studies - The Origins of Slavery
 Transatlantic slave trade

The nature of the slave trade

The physical, human, and mental impact on the slave
Grade 8 (GT) – Quarter 1
 The American Colonies

Key Vocabulary – triangular trade, Trans-Atlantic slave trade, Middle
Passage

Key Concepts –
8. Mercantilism and the resulting triangular trade was at the
heart of the British colonial economic system in America.
9. With the growing dependency on cash crops, chattel slavery
developed over time in British colonial America.
Learning Outcomes:
 Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the
text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text, including
determining where the text leaves matters uncertain.
 Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in different
media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively) as well as in words in order to
address a question or solve a problem.
Task Question: What were the experiences of the Middle Passage and how did they
impact the Africans who survived?
Historical Thinking Skills Assessed: Primarily Corroboration with a secondary
emphasis on Sourcing.
Background Essay:
The Middle Passage is a term used to refer to the second leg of a trade triangle
between Europe, Africa, and the Americas. During the Middle Passage enslaved
Africans were transported to be sold in the Americas. Although estimates vary
most sources agree that between 1500 and 1900 10-16 million people were
transported from Africa to the Americas. Conditions on the approximately 7 week
voyage were nightmarish. During that time approximately 2 million Africans died
during the Middle Passage.
Context Setting: The Hook
 Students were shown clips of the Middle Passage from the mini-series Roots.
 Students read the Background Essay and answered attached questions.
Document Analysis:
 Students should work through the attached documents and guiding questions
in small groups.
Corroborating Evidence:
 Have students complete the chart entitled “The Middle Passage” as much on
their own as possible. This is most effective for two reasons: students may
choose different quotes to support their answers and it forces each student to
go back into the texts as deeply as possible for a review.
Thoughtful Application:
 Show students the text of a few historical plaque markers so they have some
idea of the type of writing they will be using.
 Have students write rough drafts on the paper provided.
 Have students choose appropriate graphics and then complete their final
draft on the computer (we used ppt).
qwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyui
opasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfgh
jklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvb
nmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwer
tyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopas
The Middle Passage
dfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzx
How did the Middle Passage impact the
Africans who survived?
cvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmq
wertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuio
pasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghj
klzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbn
mqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwerty
uiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdf
ghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxc
vbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmrty
uiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdf
ghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxc
.
The Middle Passage
Background Essay
The Middle Passage refers to
the 2nd leg of the Triangular
Trade Route between Europe,
Africa, and the Americas. Each
region provided goods that
were unavailable in the other
regions. From Europe to
Africa traders brought beads,
cloth, hardware, salt, and/or rum. In Africa these goods were traded for
people. These people were sent to the New World and sold as slaves. Colonies
in the New World sent molasses, rum, sugar and tobacco to Europe, a large
portion of these goods were produced by the unpaid labor of the slaves from
Africa.
Now considered to be a crime against humanity, between the 15th and 19th
centuries, 12-15 million people were transported to the New World most
along the Middle Passage.1 The number of people who died due to the
deplorable conditions and inhumane treatment of the slaves by their
captors is unknowable and estimates range from 5-30 million.2
However, the horror of the Middle Passage for slaves began even before the
6-8 week trans-Atlantic journey. Slaves were captured in Africa and force
marched to the Western coast where they were imprisoned sometimes for
1
2
http://www.understandingslavery.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=369&Itemid=145
http://www.recoveredhistories.org/storiesmiddle.php
months. Then they were chained and forced onto ships for transportation.
Slavers followed one of two philosophies. They were either “tight packers”
or “loose packers.” Both philosophies were designed to achieve the highest
profit for their “cargo.” Tight packers loaded slaves sometimes on top of
each other in an effort to get as many human beings on board as possible.
The death rate was higher among tight packing ships, but proponents of
tight packing argued they could “afford” to lose more slaves because they
had more to begin with. Slavers who advocated “loose packing” argued that
be giving slaves more room and slightly more sanitary conditions a higher
percentage would reach the New World alive, and therefore their profit
margin was higher. Regardless of philosophy, conditions on board a slave
ship were deplorable.
The reactions of captured Africans varied widely. Some Africans chose to
commit suicide or gave up the will to live. Some enslaved Africans, despite
coming from different tribal groups – who spoke different languages learned to communicate and revolted on board ship. Despite a few
successful mutinies, (the most famous of which is probably the Amistad)
most Middle Passage slave revolts were unsuccessful due to the superior
firepower of the Europeans and the weakened condition of slaves due to
disease and malnutrition. However, a greater number of slaves endured the
horror of the Middle Passage and landed in the New World. There they
faced another crime against humanity, the conditions of slavery in the
Americas.
The Middle Passage
Background Essay Questions
1. On the diagram below label the goods that were traded on each leg of
the Triangular Trade Route.
2. In your own words define the Middle Passage.
3. Why do you think the Middle Passage has been described as a “crime
against humanity?”
THE INTERESTING NARRATIVE OF THE LIFE OF OLAUDAH
EQUIANO
1794
Courtesy of Library of Congress, Rare Book and Special Collections
Division
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/slavery/experience/living/docs5.html
“
At last, when the ship we were in had got all
her cargo, they made ready with many fearful
noises, and we were all put under deck, so that
we could not see how they managed the vessel.
But this disappointment was the least of my
sorrow. The stench of the hold while we were
on the coast was so intolerably loathsome, that
it was dangerous to remain there for any time,
and some of us had been permitted to stay on
the deck for the fresh air; but now that the
whole ship's cargo were confined together, it
became absolutely pestilential: The closeness[s] of the place, and the heat of the
climate, added to the number in the ship, which was so crowded that each had
scarcely room to turn himself, almost suffocated us. This produced copious
perspirations, so that the air soon became unfit for respiration, from a variety of
loathsome smells, and brought on the sicknes[s] amongst the slaves, of which many
died, thus falling victims to the improvident avarice, as I may call it, of their
purchasers. This wretched situation was again aggravated by the galling of the
chains, now become insupportable; and the filth of the necessary tubs, into which
the children often fell, and were almost suffocated. The shrieks of the women, and
the groans of the dying, rendered the whole a scene of horror almost
inconceivable. Happily perhaps for myself I was soon reduced so low here that it
was thought necessary to keep me almost always on deck; and from my extreme
youth I was not put in fetters. In this situation I expected every hour to share the
fate of my companions, some of whom were almost daily brought upon deck at the
point of death, which I began to hope would soon put an end to my miseries. Often
did I think many of the inhabitants of the deep much more happy than myself; I
envied them the freedom they enjoyed, and as often wished I could change my
condition for theirs. Every circumstance I met with served only to render my state
more painful, and heighten my apprehensions and my opinion of the cruelty of the
whites.”
Close Reading: What claims does Olaudah Equiano make about the voyage on the
slave ship?
Close Reading: What adjectives does Equiano use to describe the voyage? How does
his word choice reinforce his claim about the voyage?
Diagram of Stowage of British Slave Ship Brooks, 1788, Library of Congress,
http://www.loc.gov/rr/rarebook/guide/ra023002.html
Translation of the Note: http://herb.ashp.cuny.edu/items/show/1226
Note: The "Brookes" after the Regulation Act of 1788, was allowed to carry 454 Slaves,
She could stow this number by following the rule adopted in this plate. Namely of allowing
a space of 6 ft. by 1 ft. 4 in. to each man; 5 ft. 10 in. by 1 ft. 4 in. to each woman, & 5
ft. by 1 ft. 2 in. to each boy, but so much space as this was seldom allowed even after the
Regulation Act. It was proved by the confession of the Slave Merchant that before the above
Act the Brookes had at one time carried as many as 609 Slaves. This was done by taking
some out of Irons & locking them spoonwise (to use the technical term) that is by stowing
one within the distended legs of the other.
Comprehension: How many slaves were stowed in the lower deck of the Slave Ship
Brooks?
Comprehension: How much space did the slaves stowed on the shelves have
between them and the next shelf?
Corroboration: How does this document support the ideas of Equiano? Does this
make you more or less likely to believe what he has said?
Extracts from John Newton's journal
The following extracts are from slave trader John Newton's journal during the 'Middle Passage' voyage across the Atlantic in 1754.
http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/ism/slavery/middle_passage/john_newton.aspx
Wednesday 12 June
"....Got the slaves up this morn. Washed them all with fresh water. They complained
so much that was obliged to let them go down again when the rooms were cleaned.
Buryed a man slave (No 84) of a flux, which he has been struggling with near 7
weeks... "
Thursday 13 June
"...This morning buryed a woman slave (No 47) Know not what to say she died of for
she has not been properly alive since she first came on board."
Sunday 16 June
"... In the afternoon we were alarmed with a report that some of the men slaves
had found means to poyson the water in the scuttle casks upon the deck, but upon
enquiry found they had only conveyed some of their country fetishes, as they call
them, or talismans into one of them, which they had the credulity to suppose must
inevitably kill all who drank of it. But if it please God they make no worse attempts
than to charm us to death, they will not much harm us, but it shews their intentions
are not wanting..."
Tuesday 18 June
"...The air is so sharp that the slaves cannot stand the deck, not even to mess or
wash. In the forenoon passed a few small parcels of gulphweed."
Saturday 22 June
"...Being pretty warm, got up the men and washed all the slaves with fresh water. l
am much afraid of another ravage from the flux, for we have had 8 taken within
these few days. Have seen 2 or 3 tropick birds and a few flying fish."
Sourcing: Whose journal are you reading? What was his occupation?
Sourcing: Is this document meant to be read by the public? How do you think this
impacts how the author writes?
Sourcing: Considering the type of document and the author’s profession, do you
think this document is believeable? Why or why not?
Close Reading: What is the example of resistance described in this document?
Corroboration: How does the account of June 12th differ from Equiano’s account of
how slaves felt about being below deck?
Corroboration: How does this document support Equian’s claims about death on
board ship?
Name:
Date:
Period:
The Middle Passage
Directions: For each of the topics listed below Write if the sources we study agree or disagree. Then provide quotes or details
from the text to support your theory.
Issue
Death on
board
Conditions
below decks
Feelings of
slaves to
captors
Cleanliness
of Slaves
Agree or
Disagree
Olaudah Equiano
The Brooks
John Newton’s Journal
Using your readings, your clarifying questions, and the chart above, answer the
following question:
A bill was introduced in Congress in 2003 to create the National Slave
Memorial on the Mall in Washington D.C. You have been asked by Congress to
write a plaque for the memorial. It should be about 150-200 words and should
define the Middle Passage and describe the conditions that Africans faced on
the slave ships. Be sure to include at least two quotes from the documents in
the text of your plaque.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
qwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyui
opasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfgh
jklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvb
nmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwer
The Middle Passage
tyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopas
How did the Middle Passage impact the
Africans who survived?
dfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzx
KEY
cvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmq
wertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuio
pasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghj
klzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbn
mqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwerty
uiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdf
ghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxc
vbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmrty
uiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdf
ghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxc
.
THE INTERESTING NARRATIVE OF THE LIFE OF OLAUDAH
EQUIANO
1794
Courtesy of Library of Congress, Rare Book and Special Collections
Division
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/slavery/experience/living/docs5.html
“
At last, when the ship we were in had got all
her cargo, they made ready with many fearful
noises, and we were all put under deck, so that
we could not see how they managed the vessel.
But this disappointment was the least of my
sorrow. The stench of the hold while we were
on the coast was so intolerably loathsome, that
it was dangerous to remain there for any time,
and some of us had been permitted to stay on
the deck for the fresh air; but now that the
whole ship's cargo were confined together, it
became absolutely pestilential: The closeness[s] of the place, and the heat of the
climate, added to the number in the ship, which was so crowded that each had
scarcely room to turn himself, almost suffocated us. This produced copious
perspirations, so that the air soon became unfit for respiration, from a variety of
loathsome smells, and brought on the sicknes[s] amongst the slaves, of which many
died, thus falling victims to the improvident avarice, as I may call it, of their
purchasers. This wretched situation was again aggravated by the galling of the
chains, now become insupportable; and the filth of the necessary tubs, into which
the children often fell, and were almost suffocated. The shrieks of the women, and
the groans of the dying, rendered the whole a scene of horror almost
inconceivable. Happily perhaps for myself I was soon reduced so low here that it
was thought necessary to keep me almost always on deck; and from my extreme
youth I was not put in fetters. In this situation I expected every hour to share the
fate of my companions, some of whom were almost daily brought upon deck at the
point of death, which I began to hope would soon put an end to my miseries. Often
did I think many of the inhabitants of the deep much more happy than myself; I
envied them the freedom they enjoyed, and as often wished I could change my
condition for theirs. Every circumstance I met with served only to render my state
more painful, and heighten my apprehensions and my opinion of the cruelty of the
whites.”
Close Reading: What claims does Olaudah Equiano make about the voyage on the
slave ship?
Stench, crowded, sickness, almost daily death
Close Reading: What adjectives does Equiano use to describe the voyage? How does
his word choice reinforce his claim about the voyage?
Horror,inconceivable, intolerably loathsome, fearful, dangerous, loathsome,
wretched, filth
They are extreme words. It’s not bad, it’s a horror. And he uses them in almost
every line. It makes it sound horrible and unrelenting.
Diagram of Stowage of British Slave Ship Brooks, 1788, Library of Congress,
http://www.loc.gov/rr/rarebook/guide/ra023002.html
Translation of the Note: http://herb.ashp.cuny.edu/items/show/1226
Note: The "Brookes" after the Regulation Act of 1788, was allowed to carry 454 Slaves,
She could stow this number by following the rule adopted in this plate. Namely of allowing
a space of 6 ft. by 1 ft. 4 in. to each man; 5 ft. 10 in. by 1 ft. 4 in. to each woman, & 5
ft. by 1 ft. 2 in. to each boy, but so much space as this was seldom allowed even after the
Regulation Act. It was proved by the confession of the Slave Merchant that before the above
Act the Brookes had at one time carried as many as 609 Slaves. This was done by taking
some out of Irons & locking them spoonwise (to use the technical term) that is by stowing
one within the distended legs of the other.
Close Reading: How many slaves were stowed in the lower deck of the Slave Ship
Brooks?
292 slaves
Close Reading: How much space did the slaves stowed on the shelves have between
them and the next shelf?
2 feet, 7 inches
Corroboration: How does this document support the ideas of Equiano? Does this
make you more or less likely to believe what he has said?
Definitely crowded, no way it doesn’t smell, breeding ground for diseases, if
packed this way it would be hard to bring the slaves on deck very often.
Logistically it would be a nightmare.
Extracts from John Newton's journal
The following extracts are from slave trader John Newton's journal during the 'Middle Passage' voyage across the Atlantic in 1754.
http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/ism/slavery/middle_passage/john_newton.aspx
Wednesday 12 June
"....Got the slaves up this morn. Washed them all with fresh water. They complained
so much that was obliged to let them go down again when the rooms were cleaned.
Buryed a man slave (No 84) of a flux, which he has been struggling with near 7
weeks... "
Thursday 13 June
"...This morning buryed a woman slave (No 47) Know not what to say she died of for
she has not been properly alive since she first came on board."
Sunday 16 June
"... In the afternoon we were alarmed with a report that some of the men slaves
had found means to poyson the water in the scuttle casks upon the deck, but upon
enquiry found they had only conveyed some of their country fetishes, as they call
them, or talismans into one of them, which they had the credulity to suppose must
inevitably kill all who drank of it. But if it please God they make no worse attempts
than to charm us to death, they will not much harm us, but it shews their intentions
are not wanting..."
Tuesday 18 June
"...The air is so sharp that the slaves cannot stand the deck, not even to mess or
wash. In the forenoon passed a few small parcels of gulphweed."
Saturday 22 June
"...Being pretty warm, got up the men and washed all the slaves with fresh water. l
am much afraid of another ravage from the flux, for we have had 8 taken within
these few days. Have seen 2 or 3 tropick birds and a few flying fish."
Sourcing: Whose journal are you reading? What was his occupation?
John Newton, slave trader
Sourcing: Is this document meant to be read by the public? How do you think this
impacts how the author writes?
This is a journal so probably private, I think that means Newton is more likely
to be honest.
Sourcing: Considering the type of document and the author’s profession, do you
think this document is believeable? Why or why not?
This is a tough one, and kids should struggle with it. There is the truth as he sees it.
Interestingly might be a fun time to bring up how he talks about the deaths of the slaves,
there is an air of rationalization . . . .
Close Reading: What is the example of resistance described in this document?
Slaves attempted to poison the traders by placing talismans in the water casks on
deck.
Corroboration: How does the account of June 12th differ from Equiano’s account of
how slaves felt about being below deck?
According to Newton they cannot wait to get back below decks. And the areas
below decks and the slaves themselves are cleaned on a regular basis, Equiano
does not mention this.
Corroboration: How does this document support Equian’s claims about death on
board ship?
“…we have had 8 taken with these few days…”
Name:
Date:
Period:
The Middle Passage
Directions: For each of the topics listed below Write if the sources we study agree or disagree. Then provide quotes or details
from the text to support your theory.
Issue
Agree or
Disagree
Death on
board
Agree
Conditions
below decks
Disagree
Feelings of
slaves to
captors
Agree
Cleanliness
of Slaves
Disagree/Agree
Olaudah Equiano
“…some of whom were almost daily brought upon No comment
deck at the point of death…”
“brought on sickness amongst the slaves, of
which many died.”
The Brooks
John Newton’s Journal
“Buryed a man slave (no 84) of a flux”
“This morning buryed a woman slave (No
47)” “. . . we have had 8 taken within
these few days.”
“The closeness of the place, and the heat of the Each man had 6 ft by 1 ft 4in, women had “They complained so much that was obliged
climate, added to the number in the ship, which 5 ft 10 in by 1 ft 4 in, Boys had 5 ft
to let them go down again when the rooms
was so crowded that each had scarcely room to by 1 ft 2in
were cleaned.” “The air is so sharp that
turn himself, almost suffocated us.”
the slaves cannot stand the deck . . .”
“Every circumstance I met with served only to No comment
“In the afternoon we were alarmed with a
render my state more painful, and heighten my
report that some of the men slaves had
apprehensions and my opinion of the cruelty of
found means to poison the water in the
the whites.”
scuttle casks upon the deck . . .”
“This produced copious perspirations, so that the “stowing one within the distended legs of
“”washed them all with fresh water” June
air soon became unfit for respiration, from a
another”
12
variety of loathsome smells, and brought on
“”washed all the slaves with fresh water”
sickness amongst the slaves, of which many
June 22
died.”
Using your readings, your clarifying questions, and the chart above, answer the
following question:
A bill was introduced in Congress in 2003 to create the National Slave
Memorial on the Mall in Washington D.C. You have been asked by Congress to
write a plaque for the memorial. It should be about 150-200 words and should
define the Middle Passage and describe the conditions that Africans faced on
the slave ships. Be sure to include at least two quotes from the documents in
the text of your plaque.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
The Middle Passage
Grading Rubric for Monument Plaque
Criteria
4
Evidence
Corroboration
Justifies claims using
Constructs interpretation
appropriate, direct
of events using
evidence from a variety
conflicting information
of reliable sources.
given about the same
topic in multiple texts.
3
Justifies claims using
Explains similarities and
some appropriate, direct
differences by comparing
evidence from a variety
information and
of reliable sources.
perspectives of multiple
documents.
2
1
Justifies claims using
Identifies similarities
generalizations, or using
and differences in
limited appropriate
information in multiple
direct evidence.
texts.
Does not justify or
Demonstrates little to no
support claims using
attempt to examine
appropriate direct
documents for
evidence.
corroborating or
conflicting evidence.