USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -The captains of these ships sailed first to Africa, where they sold goods-textiles, metals, decorative items, and guns-for enslaved Africans, who were picked up either directly from African dealers or from coastal forts built by the company to hold already purchased slaves.

Detailed explanation-2: -A brief introduction to the slave trade and its abolition On the first leg, merchants exported goods to Africa in return for enslaved Africans, gold, ivory and spices. The ships then travelled across the Atlantic to the American colonies where the Africans were sold for sugar, tobacco, cotton and other produce.

Detailed explanation-3: -At best, captives were fed beans, corn, yams, rice, and palm oil. Slaves were fed one meal a day with water, if at all. When food was scarce, slaveholders would get priority over the slaves.

Detailed explanation-4: -On the slave ships, people were stuffed between decks in spaces too low for standing. The heat was often unbearable, and the air nearly unbreathable. Women were often used sexually. Men were often chained in pairs, shackled wrist to wrist or ankle to ankle.

Detailed explanation-5: -Other items such as tea and spices were also sent to the colonies. The goods that needed to be brought from England to Africa included iron products, cloth, trinkets and beads, copper, guns and ammunition. Slaves were the most important ‘commodity’ sent from Africa.