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Period: 1400 to
Atlantic Slave Trade
During the period from the mid 1400s to the early 1800s, Europeans participated in the Atlantic slave trade typically for economic purposes. African slave labor was often desired for agricultural work in European New World colonies as their labor was virtually free from expenses. This ultimately led to a dependence on slavery to sustain multiple industries in European economies like the production of cotton for textiles. The Atlantic slave trade would be lengthy and would not be ended for years. -
1444
Beginning of African Slavery by Europeans
In Lagos, Portugal, the first ever public purchase of an African slave occurred in Europe. This marked a revolutionary moment in European history as African labor was introduced to these nations. In the next few centuries, Europeans would begin to increase their dependence on African slave labor in order to increase product output without paying for labor. -
1503
Spanish Involvement in the Slave Trade
In the year 1503, Spanish traders forcefully transported the first shipment of African men, women, and children to the Americas. This signaled the beginning of the wide scale use of African labor instead of that of Native Americans in European colonies in the New World. Both Britain and the Dutch followed soon after the introduction of the Spanish Atlantic slave trade system. -
Atlantic Slave Trade Intensifies
During the 1650s, the amount of African people being shipped to the Americas by European nations increased exponentially due to the rise in plantation agriculture for crops in high demand like cotton and tobacco. In the period from 1650 to 1807, approximately seven million Africans were enslaved and sent to the New World through the Atlantic Ocean. -
Abolitionist Movements in Britain Gain Prominence
During the 1780s, a number of British citizens became aware of the dehumanizing nature and extent of the Atlantic Slave trade. This growth in awareness spurred a powerful abolition movement during this period primarily led by women. Unfortunately, these groups received a good amount of backlash as defenders of the slave trade argued the colonies and Britain as a whole were dependent on the institution of slavery. This caused the Atlantic slave trade to remain a contentious subject. -
The End of the British Slave Trade
In 1807, Parliament officially abolished the Atlantic slave trade. Although this stopped the shipment of Africans, slavery still persisted in both the British colonies and America.
