The Middle Passage Lesson starter: - PowerPoint Presentation

1. The Middle PassageLesson starter:Give two examples of the treatment of slaves in slave factories on the African coast.(try to explain why this was done too.)

2. We are learning to…Describe the conditions of the Middle PassageI can…Write an account of an African on a slave ship Complete example N5 Qs

3. BackgroundThe voyage from West Africa to the West Indies became known as the middle passageIt was the most brutal part of the slave tradeThe conditions on the middle passage regularly come up in the N5 paper!

4. Watch the clip and write down 5 things you noticehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCHvD2DyWeY

5. Stage 1: BoardingSlaves were loaded like goods onto ships – quickly and efficientlyThey were usually carried to slave ships on canoesNets were placed around the ship to stop slaves trying to escape or commit suicideHeads were shaved and clothes removedSome Africans believed they were going to be eaten by Europeans and were terrified

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8. Stage 2: On BoardSlaves were kept below deck on the ship (no fresh air or light)Slaves were chained together side by sideThey were restrained using shackles (fastened ankles together) or manacles (wrists)Slaves did the toilet in latrine buckets which were often knocked over in the dark or by choppy seaThe voyage took about 6-8 weeksThey ate, slept, did the toilet, gave birth and died below deckThey had no idea where they were or where they were goingMany tried to commit suicide by jumping overboard

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12. Middle Passage: Daily RoutineSlaves were usually allowed up on deck for 1-2 hours a day for air and exercise (only when land was out of sight)They were taken up in groups and kept chained togetherThey were fed twice a day (rice, millet, yams & sometimes oranges) and given about a pint of waterSlaves were made to clean the shipSlaves were whipped to make them jump/ exercise/ move about

13. Slaves whipped to make them exercise

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15. DiseaseThe ship’s crew dreaded an outbreak of disease as it was very hard to contain on boardCommon outbreaks were gastroenteritis, dysentry, dropsy, scarlet fever and yellow feverDuring a storm, disease spread quickly as slaves were kept below deck in filthy conditions – hot, damp, no fresh air etc.Often the crew would become ill too – deaths amongst crew on slave ships were much higher than on other boatsWorking as crew was not a desirable job – many had to be bribed or plied with alcohol to agree to it

16. Rebellion on the Middle PassageAttempts by the slaves to take over were very common but rarely successfulThere was roughly eight ‘insurrections’ for every 10 voyagesOver 50 major mutinies occurred on slave ships in the Middle Passage between 1699 and 1865. The primary sources on the next slide tell us about some examples…Look for information on;What the slaves arm themselves withHow successful rebellions were

17. I discovered today that the slaves were plotting an insurrection. I found some knives, stones and a chisel. I put four boys in irons and thumbscrews to urge them into a confession.From Captain John Newton’s diary.The Africans armed themselves with various weapons. They came in crowds on our men and attacked them unaware. The stabbed the stoutest one of us. He received 15 wounds. Next they assaulted the boatswain (supervisor) and cut one of his legs to the bone right through the nerve. Another cut the cook’s throat and threw a sailor overboard. This rebellion was immediately put down. Many of the mutineers leapt overboard and drowned themselves.

18. There were frequent uprisings but most were prevented. Some succeeded and killed the whole crew, but only a few. When the leaders of these were quizzed they asked us what business we had to take them from their country. That they had wives and children in Africa.In the latest insurrection, we lost 100 slaves who have jumped overboard. Most were recovered but three chose death rather than come back onboard.

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20. Choice of Tasks – Middle PassageMiddle Passage MemoirYou should write a memoir for an African on the middle passage between Africa and the West Indies. You should include;Boarding the shipConditions on boardDaily RoutineDiseaseRebellions 6 marks available – 1 for every factually correct point.N5 QuestionDescribe conditions for slaves on board slave ships during the middle passage. 6 marks6 marks = 6 sentences each with a new detailed point.

21. 2016 Q 1How Fully – Middle PassageJudgement, source x3, recall x3

22. Judgementif no J, max 2 marksSourceSlaves tightly packed Conditions horrendous and slaves denied basic sanitationDisease common and many died from illnesses like dysentery Food was given but it was unfamiliar and many refused to eatRecallSlaves were chained togetherSlaves were kept below deck with no fresh air or daylight Slaves were danced and whipped up on deck Women were abused by crewSlaves fed millet and yams in their handsAny other valid point

23. Specimen PaperEvaluate Usefulness

24. Slave AuctionsLesson starterDescribe how an auction works.What type of slaves do you think would be most valuable? Why?

25. We are learning to…Explain how a slave auction workedI can…Create a poster advertising a slave auction orWrite a description of a slave auction

26. BackgroundAt the end of the middle passage the slaves would arrive in the West Indies/ AmericaThey were sold by auction (to the highest bidder)Those who were not sold were sold at a scramble – buyers rushed forward to grab the ‘lot’ they wanted to buyPosters advertising slave auctions would go up as soon as ships arrived

27. Task OneUse the following sources to gather information Write down 1/2 key points that you notice for each

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34. Key pointsSlaves advertised as –’negroes’Posters in English – English speaking buyersYoung men most valuableSkills made slaves more valuable – carpenter etcSold at the same time as goods and toolsDescribed as ‘gangs’, ‘cargo’ - dehumanisedGiven English names

35. Preparing the slaves for saleIt was important that slaves looked as healthy and fit as possible so they would fetch the highest pricesSlaves were;Washed with water Rubbed with palm oilWounds from the middle passage were filled up – with tar, gunpowder or rustSlaves with grey hairs had their heads shaved Slaves who were sick were treated brutally to hide signs of illness – tar was put inside their anus to hide diarrhoea for example

36. How the auctions worked – in detailIn the auction, an auctioneer sold the slaves individually or in lots (as a group), with the slaves being sold to the highest bidder.The other method was the scramble. Here the slaves were kept together in an enclosure. Buyers paid the captain a fixed sum beforehand.Once all the buyers had paid, the enclosure gate was thrown open and the buyers rushed in together and grabbed the slaves they wanted. This was often a terrifying experience for the slaves.Slaves left behind were called ‘refuse’. They were sold cheaply to anyone who would take them. Any that couldn’t be sold were left at the coast to die

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41. Clipshttp://www.bbc.co.uk/education/clips/zbttsbkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfw9mLjh7YM

42. Task – Your choiceTask OneCreate a poster which advertises a slave auctionIt should Show where & when the sale isWhat ‘lots’ are for saleThe skills of each ‘lot’Use language appropriate for the time periodBe in the style of the 18th centuryTask TwoWrite an eyewitness account of a slave auctionIt shouldInclude a description of the ‘lots’ for saleExplain how the sale worksDescribe what happens to the slaves who are not soldDiscuss how the slaves are treated during the auction