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Aug 3, 1492
Columbus arrives in the New World
Columbus set out to find a western route to China, India, and the fabled Asia. -
Aug 3, 1503
First Reported Slaves in the New World
Slaves were forced from the Old World to the New World because European businessmen didn’t know how to farm and had a hard time, so they forced slaves to do it for them with little pay. -
Oct 5, 1509
First African slaves arrive in the New World
More and more people were needed to work on plantations. -
Apr 9, 1510
First slaves shipped to colonies in South America from Spain
These slaves were used for services and employed in various ways such as employment in domestic affairs. -
May 10, 1513
Native Americans were sold in Spain and Portugal as slaves
Colonies were short of workers who could pick cotton, tobacco, rice, and indigo. -
2 million Europeans traveled willingly to the Americas
Many Europeans were in need of money to provide for themselves so they were hired as indentured servants. -
Large numbers of Europeans established settlements in the New World
Famine and religious persecution led many Europeans to flee their countries and head west. -
The Spanish imports more than 4,800 African slaves per year
Increased demand for tobacco, cotton, and indigo caused a demand in African slaves. -
Higher demand for slaves for the New World
The invention of the Cotton Gin created the need for more laborers, raising the demand for slaves. -
Advocates for abolishing slavery arise
As increased awareness of the mistreatment of slavery grew, advocates like Harriet Tubman began transporting slaves and freeing them.
