Which phenomenon did triangular trade most directly encourage?
A. democratization of English colonists
B. depopulation of Native Americans
C. migration of enslaved Africans
D. urbanization of European artisans
The triangular trade most directly encouraged the migration of enslaved Africans.
To understand why, let's first explain what the triangular trade was. The triangular trade was a historical trading network between Europe, Africa, and the Americas during the 17th and 18th centuries. The trade involved three stages, forming a triangular pattern: First, European merchants would sail to Africa with manufactured goods (such as textiles, firearms, and rum) to exchange for African slaves. Then, the enslaved Africans were transported across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas, primarily to work on plantations and in mines as forced labor. Finally, raw materials, such as sugar, tobacco, and cotton, were transported back to Europe.
Now, looking at the given options, the triangular trade directly encouraged the migration of enslaved Africans. Enslaved Africans were forcibly taken from their homes and transported to the Americas to be sold as slaves. This mass migration of enslaved Africans was a direct result of the demand for labor in the American colonies, fueled by the plantations and mines that European colonists had established. The triangular trade system enabled the movement of enslaved Africans from Africa to the Americas, leading to their significant population and exploitation in the colonies. Therefore, the correct answer is option C: migration of enslaved Africans.