Worksheet to accompany the materials at www.activehistory.co.

uk
Growth of the Empire: Africa and Slaves

▪ In the last activity we learnt how the British Empire

had its roots in America and Asia. The sale of sugar and
tobacco from plantations in America paid for spices and
silks from Asia.
▪ However, these plantations required large amounts of
workers. So, Britain turned to the African slave trade.
▪ The transatlantic slave trade is one of the most
shameful episodes in European history. Over 50,000
Black Africans every year were kidnapped to Britain, the
USA and the Carribean. Even their names were taken
away. In total, over 3 million people were transported
in this way.
▪ This creates bitterness and controversy even today. Some people argue that:
▪ Racism today is a direct result of the slave trade;
▪ Britain should pay black people compensation for the indignity their ancestors suffered;
▪ The slave trade is directly responsible for Africa's "Third World" status.
▪ In this unit, you will decide how far you agree with these ideas.

Task 1: The “Trade Triangle”

Look at the picture on this page. This shows how the slave trade worked in practice.
(a) What “raw materials” came from the Caribbean?

(b) What “manufactured goods” came from Europe?

Task 2: Cause and Consequence

The Slave Trade was both a cause AND a consequence of the Industrial revolution. We call this
a “symbiotic relationship” (in other words, a “chicken and egg” situation!)
(a) In what ways was the slave trade a CAUSE of the Industrial Revolution?

(b) In what ways was the slave trade a CONSEQUENCE of the Industrial Revolution?

Task 3: What was the experience of the slaves across the Middle Passage?
▪ The “Middle Passage” is the name given to the transportation of slaves from Africa to the
Americas. It was a terrible journey in which many people died of starvation, disease and torture.
▪ If you have them available to you, watch the clips from the film “Amistad” and “Roots”. Tick off
any events listed over the page as they occur within the film.
(a) In what ways are the two clips similar, and in what ways are they different?
(b) Which clip do you think is the most powerful? Explain your answer.

▪ Now complete the graph task which is outlines overleaf. Compare your findings with a parter.
 Worksheet to accompany the materials at www.activehistory.co.uk

Living Graph: The Middle Passage

▪ Mark off the events on this list which would make you feel (a) Most upset and (b) Least bothered.
▪ Shade in the appropriate cell in the table for these two events – (a) will go in a row towards the top of
the table, (b) in a row towards the bottom. The event number tells you which column to put each one in.
▪ Now go through the remaining events and plot them in the most appropriate spots.

List of Statements (from Lesley Ann at www.schoolhistory.co.uk/forum):

What was the experience of the slaves across the Middle Passage?
1 Snatched from my village - Tied with chains and rope.
2 Taken to the coast and put onto a ship – 600 slaves packed onto the ship - we are forced below decks.

3 Chained together hands and feet. Packed in like spoons - no room to move. (Length 5ft 6in/width
16inches)
4 The heat is unbearable - I gasp for breath!
5 A mixture of unpleasant smells - urine, faeces, and vomit.
6 I hear the shrieks of women and the groans of the dying.
7 I refuse to eat. I am flogged as a punishment!
8 Food is served – one bucket between 10 men.
9 A slave rebels – his hands and feet are cut off!
10 A slave commits suicide –jumps over board.
11 The crew rape slave women.
12 The sick and dying are thrown alive overboard.
13 Disease and death spreads - dysentery and small pox.
14 Twice a week we are forced to dance on deck – or be whipped!
15 The journey takes two to three months – the journey is rough!

BAD
Feelings

TERRIBLE
[event] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Extension Task:
▪ Turn this into a “Living Graph” using the template at www.classtools.net. OR
▪ Turn this activity into an excel spreadsheet which automatically creates the graph based on the rating you want to
give it.
Worksheet to accompany the materials at www.activehistory.co.uk