The Triangular Trade
(aka: Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade)
DEFINITION
Triangular Trade:
Trade routes between
Africa, Europe and
the Americas during
the Atlantic Slave
Trade.
Spain, Portugal,
& England
• They needed slaves to
work on their plantations
in South America, the
Caribbean, & North
America
ENGLAND
• At beginning, only a few slaves came to
English colonies.
• But when tobacco, cotton & rice
plantations grew in the colonies, slave
trade increased.
• Britain was given control over much of
slave trade  had a monopoly
Maps of the Triangular Trade
Leg One: THE OUTWARD
PASSAGE
• Ships left Europe loaded with guns, tools, textiles
(manufactured goods)
• Crews with guns went ashore to capture slaves &
purchase slaves from tribal leaders.
• Slaves were obtained by:
1. Kidnapping
2. Trading
3. People given by chiefs as tributes (gifts)
4. Chiefs sent people who were in debt
5. Chiefs sent criminals through judicial
process
6. Prisoners of tribal wars also sent.
Goree, or Slave-Stick
• A forked branch which opens exactly to the
size of a neck so the head can't pass through
it.
• The forked branch is pierced with two holes
so that an iron pin comes across the neck of
the slave . . ., so that the smallest movement
is sufficient to stop him and even to strangle
him
Goree, or Slave-Stick
Forced Participation
• African Chiefs resisted in the beginning;
however, they needed weapons for
defense.
• Europeans too powerful; therefore, any
effort to resistance was unsuccessful
• If chiefs did not supply slaves, they were
threatened to be taken as slaves.
• Slaves were held in
prisons along the west
coast of Africa.
• They were waiting to put
on slaves ships.
• Those that journeyed
from the interior and were
not fit for the ship were
left on the shores to die
Fort
Elmina
Leg Two: THE MIDDLE PASSAGE
- Ships sailed across Atlantic Ocean from Africa to
Americas, carrying slaves & gold
- Journey took 5-12 weeks
- DISGUSTING CONDITIONS
- Some Africans tried to jump ship, refused to eat
& rebelled.
- Loss of slave’s life was a loss of $ for sailors.
LEG TWO:
THE MIDDLE PASSAGE
• Voyage from Africa to the Americas
• “Loose packing”: captains took fewer
slaves in hope to reduce sickness & death.
• “Tight packing”: captains carried as
many slaves as their ship could hold 
many died on voyage
Leg Three: THE HOMEWARD
PASSAGE
• Africans sold at auctions in Americas
• Money from their sale would buy a cargo
of raw materials: cotton, sugar, spices,
rum, chocolate or tobacco.
• In Europe, converted raw materials into
finished products.
Auctions (don’t write down)
• There were 3 ways slaves were auctioned off:
1. Public Auctions:
- They put tar on the slaves to hide any sores
and cuts
- Slaves were inspected
- An auction to took place and the higher bidder
would get to purchase the slave.
- Bids were taken as long as an inch of a candle
burned.
- Slaves were branded
- Families were separated
- They were given a European name.
Auctions (don’t write down)
2. Private Auctions:
- Similar to public auctions
- They were indoors and red markers would
be placed on the door to indicate an
auction.
Auctions (don’t write down)
3. A Scramble:
- They would take place on the docks or
on the deck of the ship
- There would be a fixed price per head
- Slave owners would go in and grab who
they wanted to purchase.
AUCTIONS
• American born slaves who had skills were
most expensive
• African born slaves were less $, as they
had to be “broken in”
• Age, sex, & skills determined cost
• Slaves with many scars considered too
rebellious
• 3 ways: public auction, private auction, or
scramble
SLAVERY ABOLISHED IN
BRITISH EMPIRE
• 1807 = slave trade abolished in British Empire  no
slaves carried from Africa in British ships.
• 1834 = Emancipation Act: slaves under 6 yrs. old
were freed; field hands over 6 worked for owners for 6
more years; house slaves worked 10 more years
• Britain gave 20 million pounds in compensation to
former slave owners & slaves received nothing
• 1838 all slaves given complete freedom
• Slavery in USA not abolished until 1865