Atlantic Slave Trade
The Trans-Atlantic slave trade began around the 16th century, reaching its peak in the 17th century until it was finally abolished in the 19th century. The main driving force behind it was the need for European empires to thrive in the New World.
So as a result, European and American settlers started to use the mostly enslaved West African population to fill the vast labor needs on cotton plantations. Estimates differ on the number of enslaved people who passed away during this period.
But it is said that for every 10 enslaved people taken on one of the ships, 4 would die from causes related to mistreatment.
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