The Transatlantic Slave Trade in Colonial America

Social Studies American History Colonial America The Slave Trade in Colonial America
Students brainstorm what the word slavery means to them. Then they learn about the role of slavery in the economy of the American colonies. Next they explain the triangular trade system of the Transatlantic slave trade. Finally, they write a brief diary entry from the point of view of a young slave.

This learning experience is designed for device-enabled classrooms. The teacher guides the lesson, and students use embedded resources, social media skills, and critical thinking skills to actively participate. To get access to a free version of the complete lesson, sign up for an exploros account.

1:1 Devices
Teacher Pack

The Pack contains associated resources for the learning experience, typically in the form of articles and videos. There is a teacher Pack (with only teacher information) and a student Pack (which contains only student information). As a teacher, you can toggle between both to see everything.

Here are the teacher pack items for The Transatlantic Slave Trade in Colonial America:

Preview - Scene 1
Exploros Learnign Experience Scene Navigation


Overview

In this experience, students share what they already know about slavery. Then they learn about the role of slavery in the economy of the American colonies. Next, they explain the triangular trade system of the Transatlantic slave trade. Finally, they write a short paragraph about what life may have been like for a twelve-year-old enslaved child.

Estimated duration: 30–40 minutes

Vocabulary words:

  • transatlantic
  • labor
  • profitable
  • port
  • rival
  • property

Objectives

  • Explain why the transatlantic slave trade arose
  • Describe the role of slaves in the colonial economy


Engage


For more than 300 years, from the time of the first European colonies in the Americas into the 1800s, millions of African men, women, and children were kidnapped from their homes. They were forced onto ships and taken across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas. There, they were sold and forced to work. This system was called the Transatlantic slave trade. It caused great suffering for African people and their families. Their forced work made plantation owners, traders, and European colonizers very wealthy.

Objectives

  • Explain why the transatlantic slave trade arose
  • Describe the role of slaves in the colonial economy


illustration showing a colonist auctioning off an African baby while its mother pleads for help; other slaves are shown in chains and one is being whipped; colonists are bidding on the baby

Slave Market, from Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Henry Bibb,

An American Slave, Written by Himself (1849)


In a word or short phrase, complete this sentence: When I hear the word slavery, I think of…

Post your answer

Use student responses to judge what students know about historic slavery. If they give any examples of contemporary slavery or civil rights movements such as Black Lives Matter, you can have a class discussion about these ongoing issues.


When everyone is ready to continue, unlock the next scene.


End of Preview
The Complete List of Learning Experiences in Colonial America Unit.
Social Studies American History Colonial America American Colonists and the Environment
American Colonists and the Environment
Social Studies American History Colonial America Life in Colonial America
Life in Colonial America
Social Studies American History Colonial America The Establishment of Self-Government
The Establishment of Self-Government
Social Studies American History Colonial America The Slave Trade in Colonial America
The Slave Trade in Colonial America
Social Studies American History Colonial America The Search for Wealth
The Search for Wealth
Social Studies American History Colonial America The Struggle for Religious Freedom
The Struggle for Religious Freedom
Social Studies American History Colonial America: Unit Test
Colonial America: Unit Test
Social Studies American History Colonial America Colonial America: Vocabulary
Colonial America: Vocabulary
Would you like to preview the rest of this learning experience, and get access to the entire functioning American History course for your classroom? Sign up using your school email address below.
Back to top