Middle Passage
The Middle Passage refers to the stage of the Triangular Trade where millions of Africans were forcibly transported across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas to work as slaves. This horrific journey was the second leg of a three-part voyage that involved:
- Europe to Africa: European ships carried manufactured goods to trade for slaves.
- Middle Passage: The transport of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic to the Americas.
- Americas to Europe: Ships returned with products like sugar, tobacco, and cotton produced by slave labor.
Historical Context
The Middle Passage began in the early 16th century with the onset of the Transatlantic Slave Trade and lasted until the 19th century. It was a central part of the trade that saw an estimated 12 to 15 million Africans transported, with about 1.8 million dying en route due to the harsh conditions on the ships.
Conditions on the Ships
Conditions aboard the slave ships were notoriously inhumane:
- Overcrowding: Slaves were packed tightly into the ship's hold with little room to move.
- Lack of Sanitation: Hygiene was almost non-existent, leading to the spread of diseases like smallpox, dysentery, and scurvy.
- Nutrition: Food was inadequate, often consisting of meager rations of beans, corn, or rice.
- Brutality: Enslaved Africans were subjected to physical and psychological abuse, including whippings and being shackled.
Mortality Rates
The mortality rate during the Middle Passage was extremely high. Factors contributing to this included:
- Disease due to close confinement.
- Starvation and malnutrition.
- Violence from the crew or from resistance and subsequent punishment.
- Suicide attempts by enslaved Africans who preferred death to slavery.
Impact on African Societies
The Middle Passage had devastating effects on African societies:
- Population decline in certain regions due to the loss of labor force.
- Economic and social destabilization from the loss of young and able-bodied individuals.
- Changes in local economies, with some African kingdoms engaging in the slave trade for European goods.
End of the Middle Passage
The Middle Passage began to decline with the abolition of the slave trade by various countries:
- 1807 - Britain abolished the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
- 1808 - The United States followed suit with their own ban.
- By the mid-19th century, most European powers had outlawed the trade, although illegal trade persisted.
Legacy and Memory
The Middle Passage left an indelible mark on the history of the African diaspora, influencing:
- The cultural and demographic makeup of the Americas.
- The economic development of both Europe and the Americas.
- The fight against slavery and for civil rights, with numerous movements and uprisings inspired by the horrors of the Middle Passage.
Britannica - Middle Passage
PBS - The Middle Passage
ThoughtCo - The Middle Passage