The+Middle+Passage

A part of Atlantic Slave Trade, the Middle Passage was the route from Africa to the New World, in which forcibly enslaved Africans were traded as goods and commodities. The Middle Passage got its name because it was the middle leg of the triangular trade. This journey took at least six weeks, depending on the weather over the ocean. Ships usually had around 30 crewmen and a total of around 300 men, women, and children. Not only was the ship overcrowded with humans, but the slaves were also subject to inhumane treatment. The slaves were shackled and contained under the main deck, where fresh air, light, and open spaces were all lacking. Being in close quarters constantly was plenty for disease to spread, killing off many (about 10 to 20 percent) of the Africans before they even reached land. Rather than face an unknown future of enslavement, some Africans jumped off the side of the ship and others refused to eat.

http://afroamhistory.about.com/od/slavery/a/middlepassage.htm

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Created by Rachel Mitchell on 12/07/08 Edited by: Stephen Puckette 12/07/08