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
Right
its b
The correct answer is b. Sugar became an important export.
Explanation: The slave trade grew dramatically in the Americas in the mid-1500s because sugar became an important export. The cultivation and processing of sugar required a large labor force, and the indigenous populations were not enough to meet the demand. As a result, colonial powers turned to African slavery to provide the necessary labor for the sugar plantations. The growth of the sugar industry in the Americas significantly increased the demand for slave labor, leading to the expansion of the transatlantic slave trade.
To determine why the slave trade grew dramatically in the Americas in the mid-1500s, we can evaluate the options provided:
a. People began to profit from selling Native Americans abroad: This answer suggests that the slave trade grew due to the selling of Native Americans as slaves. While indigenous peoples were unfortunately captured and enslaved, the significant growth in the slave trade cannot be attributed solely to this factor.
b. Sugar became an important export: This answer suggests that the expansion of the slave trade occurred due to the increasing demand for sugar as an export. This option is the most accurate choice. The growth of sugar plantations led to massive labor requirements and the need for a large workforce, resulting in the significant influx of slaves.
c. Gold mining required a great deal of labor: This option implies that the boom in gold mining contributed to the growth in the slave trade. While gold mining did require labor, it was not a primary reason for the expansion of the slave trade in the Americas during the mid-1500s.
d. Native Americans refused to work in the fields or in the mines: This choice suggests that the refusal of Native Americans to work in fields or mines led to the increase in the slave trade. While there might have been instances of resistance, it does not accurately explain the overall growth of the slave trade.
In conclusion, the correct answer is b. Sugar became an important export. The increasing demand for sugar led to the expansion of sugar plantations, resulting in a significant surge in the slave trade in the Americas during the mid-1500s.