Why did the use of African people as slaves increase in the Americas during the 1500s?
A.
Native Americans did not know how to harvest sugar cane.
B.
Portuguese colonists needed people to labor in their clothing factories. ***
C.
It was more efficient to import people from Africa than from other places.
D.
Native American populations had declined.
can somebody please help with this question?
I suspect D.
In the 1500s?? Probably C.
anybody got the answers??
Sure! I can help you with that question. To determine the correct answer, let's break down the options and find the most plausible explanation.
A. Native Americans did not know how to harvest sugar cane.
This is not a likely reason as Native Americans were skilled farmers and had their own agricultural practices.
B. Portuguese colonists needed people to labor in their clothing factories.
While Portuguese colonists did establish clothing factories in the Americas, slave labor was primarily utilized in other sectors, such as agriculture and mining. So, this option is not the main reason for the increase in the use of African slaves in the Americas during the 1500s.
C. It was more efficient to import people from Africa than from other places.
This option is a valid explanation. African slaves were seen as a more efficient source of labor due to various reasons: they were accustomed to agricultural work, had experience with crops like sugar cane, and were less likely to escape due to unfamiliarity with the local terrain. Therefore, importing African slaves became a preferred choice for plantation owners.
D. Native American populations had declined.
This is also a factor that contributed to the increase in the use of African slaves. Due to various reasons such as diseases brought by Europeans, forced labor, and displacement, Native American populations had indeed declined. As a result, there was a need for alternative sources of labor, which African slaves provided.
Considering all these points, the most plausible answer is C. It was more efficient to import people from Africa than from other places.