Why did the slave trade grow dramatically in the Americas in the mid-1500's
1. People began to profit from selling native Americans abroad
2. Sugar became an important export
3. gold mining required a great deal of labor
4. Native Americans refused to work in the fields or in the mines
All of the options provided contributed to the growth of the slave trade in the Americas in the mid-1500s. However, it is important to note that option 1 primarily refers to the enslavement and sale of Native Americans, while options 2, 3, and 4 primarily pertain to African slavery.
1. People began to profit from selling Native Americans abroad: During European colonization of the Americas, some colonizers enslaved and sold Native Americans to generate profit. This was particularly prominent in the Caribbean and parts of South America.
2. Sugar became an important export: The cultivation of sugarcane and the production of sugar became highly profitable in the Americas. It required a large labor force to work on the plantations, leading to an increased demand for enslaved Africans who were forced to work in these fields.
3. Gold mining required a great deal of labor: Gold was discovered in various regions of the Americas, such as Brazil and parts of Mexico, during this time period. The extraction of gold required extensive labor, and enslaved Africans were forced into the mines to meet this demand.
4. Native Americans refused to work in the fields or in the mines: While some indigenous peoples were enslaved and sold (as mentioned in option 1), many Native Americans died due to diseases brought by the Europeans or were resistant to European-style labor systems. As a result, colonizers turned to the African slave trade, which had already been established by European powers in other parts of the world, to provide the necessary labor for agricultural fields and mining operations.