The Slave Trade and Abolition

The transatlantic slave trade was one of the largest forced migrations in human history. Between the 16th and 19th centuries, approximately 12 million Africans were transported across the Atlantic to work as enslaved labourers in the Americas. Britain played a central role in this trade, and its abolition was the result of a long and bitterly contested campaign.

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The Triangular Trade

The slave trade operated as a triangular trade connecting Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

Leg	Route	Cargo
Outward passage	Britain to West Africa	Manufactured goods: textiles, guns, alcohol, metal tools
Middle Passage	West Africa to the Americas	Enslaved Africans
Return passage	Americas to Britain	Plantation products: sugar, tobacco, cotton, rum

The Middle Passage

The Middle Passage was the most horrific part of the trade.