Factors that led to triangular slave trade
1) The rising demand for labor: European colonies in the Americas, particularly in the Caribbean and South America, required a large amount of labor to work on the plantations. The indigenous populations were not sufficient for the scale of labor needed, so an alternative source was sought.
2) African slave trade networks: Slave trade networks were already established in Africa, primarily involving the Arab and African merchants. These networks were able to supply slaves to European traders who saw the opportunity to exploit this existing system.
3) European domination: European nations, particularly Portugal, Spain, England, and France, were exploring and colonizing various parts of the world during the Age of Discovery. They established stepping stone colonies along Africa's western coast, such as Portugal’s establishment of trading posts and forts. Europeans facilitated contacts with African tribes and chiefs which often resulted in the exchange of commodities and captives for slaves.
4) Economic profitability: The plantation economies in the Americas, particularly those producing sugar, tobacco, coffee, and cotton, became highly profitable. Slave labor was seen as a cost-effective means to maximize production and profits.
5) Advances in transportation technology: European nations developed more advanced ships, such as the caravel, which were capable of longer and more complex voyages. This allowed for larger-scale slave trading across the Atlantic.
6) Racial and cultural biases: A hierarchical social structure emerged in the European colonies, which promoted the idea of racial superiority with Europeans at the top. This ideology, combined with the profit-driven motivations, led to the belief that Africans were less than human and could be treated as property.
7) Legal frameworks: European powers developed laws and regulations that legalized and regulated the slave trade. These included the Royal African Company in England and the Code Noir in France.
8) Native American resistance: The Native American populations were initially subjected to slavery but were often more resistant to the harsh conditions of plantation labor. African slaves were seen as more resilient and better suited for the work.
9) Declining populations in the Americas: The native populations in the Americas were decimated by diseases brought by Europeans, such as smallpox and measles. This created a demand for replacement labor, further fueling the demand for African slaves.
10) Access to African slave markets: European traders established relationships with powerful African chiefs and rulers who were willing to engage in the slave trade. They traded goods such as textiles, guns, and alcohol in exchange for slaves.
These factors combined to create the triangular slave trade, where ships from Europe would sail to Africa, exchange goods for slaves, transport the slaves to the Americas, and then return to Europe with valuable commodities produced by enslaved labor.