Africa and the Atlantic World
by Cole Bennett and Philip Smith
Social Effects of the Slave Trade
Political Effects of the Slave Trade
Plantation System in the New World
Most plantations in the new world were in tropical and subtropical parts of the world. The main cash crops at the time was sugar, but lesser cash crops included cotton and indigo. Even though they were spread out throughout the new world, many plantations had things in common. They all specialized in one cash crop that was I major demand, and most of them provided food for their community. Almost all of the workers in the plantations were African Americans, and all of the supervisors/owners where Europeans. In the Caribbean and South America, many of the slaves died out from diseases like yellow or malaria. Also, the working and the living conditions were very rough for the slaves. They worked long hours and were fed low nutrients.
Resistance of Slaves
Since the slaves did not like the conditions in which they worked, they would resist in many ways. One costly way they revolted was simply working slowly in the plantation and more in their personal gardens. They would also sabotage the plantation equipment or even run away. Once they ran away, they would gather in mountaInous of forested area and create a new society. The most dramatic way that the slaves resisted was in revolts. Since the number of slaves far outnumbered any other group of people on the plantation, it was easier for them to organize and overwhelm their masters. While revolts didn't bring slavery to an end, it did end in a lot of death between both parties, and struck fear in plantation owners.