Copper+Sun

=Copper Sun=

Pictues link http://hitchcock.itc.virginia.edu/Slavery/search.html The First Europeans kidnapped slaves by raiding villages in Africa by the coast. These raids made Africans angry and unwilling to trade with Europeans. Over time, there was a more organized form of trade. Europeans traded the African King and Chief guns and alcohol for prisoners. Many rulers thought admitting slavery was a good form of punishment, and other groups went more inland to kidnap more Africans. After this raid, the second stage was walking to the coastline and being imprisoned in European castles and forts. As trade increased, the Africans were sent in barracoons, where they waited for the slaving ships. European traders only bought healthy, young men, women and children. They disliked old, weak, and sick people. There are records that show there were 24 million African slaves that were taken captive. Millions of them died from disease and hunger. Many even died before reaching the coast, but millions had to suffer through the horrible journey over the atlantic. -Maahum M. The transportation of further African Slaves was a hard journey. In Africa along the west coast, Europeans built 60 trading forts where they would trade captured Africans for money, and goods. Then slaves would be transported across the Atlantic Ocean and sold to slave owners in the Union. The transportation of slaves across the Atlantic was called the Middle Passage. This horrifying crossing over seas took about 60-90 days in which Africans were treated like cattle. They were forced to stay cramped together chained below decks. Many suffered from disease and starvation. The slaves had to endure the hideous confinements that were extremely warm and Africans had to lie in each others' waste and blood. In these poor quarters disease such as small pox, spread quickly and the sick were sometimes thrown overboard. The crew used iron muzzles, shackles, and whips to control slaves. Women were often abused by the crew during the night. Over the centuries about fifty-four thousand voyages were made by Europeans to sell slaves and in the process one to two million slaves died on these deadly journeys. -Alexis P.
 * How were Africans taken captive?
 * How were Africans transported?

The Africans that were tough enough to survive the brutal journey to America didn't have much to look forward to when they got there. They were beaten multiple times and then they would be sold to the highest bidder at slave auctions and then put to work. If they were rebellious they would be beaten until they were numb and couldn't even walk or even worse, if they were with family or friends they might be sold to other owners and would never see their loved ones again. The life of a slave was not easy. They were constantly beaten, sold and then beaten and sold again. Some slaves were able to escape to free land and lead a better life then what they faced in slavery. No matter how you look at it the New World was a horrible nightmare for African Americans one that many never woke up from. -Ben Zw.
 * What awaited Africans in the New World?