The Middle Passage is the term we use to describe slave trade from Africa to America. Some people also call it the Triangular Trade, because the ships traveled on ways that formed a triangle.
The trip was horrible. Many people died of diseases and were thrown overboard. People were packed like animals and had to watch others die and suffer. They did not know where they were going and many decided to fight or even kill themselves. The ships carried much more people than they were made for. The slaves were given very little food during the trip. But, few days before they reached America, they were given extra food so they would look better and earn more money at the slave auction.
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TOP 10!LENGTH OF THE TRIP
More slaves died on long trips. Even a few days made difference. Some trips took 40 days and some up to 150!
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WAITING ON THE SHIPS
Many times slaves that were caught had to wait for the traders to buy more slaves before they sailed to America. They had to live in chains on the ships.
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WAITING IN AFRICAN FORTS
Traders built forts and trading posts to keep slaves until ships came to take them. Many forts were filthy dark dungeons.
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REBELLIONS
Many slaves fought to free themselves. They rebelled on the ships. Most of the time they did not succeed.
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SUICIDE
Some slaves could not stand the conditions. They were also afraid that white people will eat them. They got this idea because they knew that many people were taken from Africa but no one ever returned. Also, many slaves thought it is better to be dead than to be a slave. Most suicides were done by jumping overboard and drowning.
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MURDER
Sometimes the ship crews and traders would beat, punish and kill slaves. They could get away with it because slaves were not thought of as people.
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DISEASE
Conditions on the ships were terrible. There were rats and bugs everywhere. Drinking water and food were spoiled. Dead bodies lied next to living people. Diseases such as dysentery were common and many slaves died from them. Some ships even had outbreaks of small pox.
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TRAUMA
Many slaves went "crazy". They were separated from families, tied in chains, and held as slaves. Many could not stand it and they became mad.
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PACKING
There were two ways to pack a slave ship. Tight packing meant that you will load as many slaves as possible. Often their bodies touched. Loose packing meant that slaves were given some room to turn around and not touch another person. Less slaves died on "loose" packed ships.
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ESCAPE
Often slaves wanted to escape. They tried to escape before and during the trip. This was very hard and most were killed.
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