why did the slave trade grow dramatically in the americas in the mid-1500s

a. people began to profit from selling native Americans abroad
b. Sugar became an important export****
c. Gold mining required a great deal of labor
d. Native Americans refused to work in the fields or in the mines

Well, since a, c, and d don't make any sense, I guess b is correct!

Hi, Kenzi!

In the 1500's, colonization was only just beginning, with Castile in South America and colonizing Panama. I believe that slave trade grew dramatically because sugar was an important export. South America is the center of the world for sugarcane exports. And sugarcane makes sugar. So I agree with Writeacher.

Oooh okay, Thank you Veritas Homework Help, I had seen that answer pop up but was confused as to why sugar had anything to do with it. Makes sense now. Thank you!

The correct answer is b. Sugar became an important export.

To arrive at this answer, we need to understand the historical context of the mid-1500s in the Americas. During this time, the cultivation and production of sugar played a critical role in the economy of the Americas, particularly in the Caribbean and Brazil. Sugar was in high demand in Europe, which caused a surge in its production and exportation.

To get the answer, you can eliminate options a, c, and d based on historical facts. Native Americans were indeed forced into labor and faced brutal treatment, but the question specifically refers to the mid-1500s. At that time, the slave trade primarily involved enslaved Africans, not Native Americans. Additionally, gold mining did require labor, but it was not the primary factor driving the dramatic growth of the slave trade in the Americas during the mid-1500s.

Therefore, the correct answer is b. Sugar became an important export, which expanded the need for labor and contributed to the rapid growth of the transatlantic slave trade.

are u sure its not A?