important role in the development of the American colonies. It was

introduced to the colonies in 1619, and spanned until the Emancipation

Proclamation in 1863. The trading of slaves in America in the seventeenth

century was a large industry. Slaves were captured from their homes in

Africa, shipped to America under extremely poor conditions, and then sold

to the highest bidder, put to work, and forced to live with the new

conditions of America. There was no mercy for the slaves and their

families as they were captured from their homes and forced onto slave

ships. Most of the Africans who were captured lived in small villages in

West Africa. A typical village takeover would occur early in the

morning. An enemy tribe would raid the village, and then burn the huts to

the ground. Most of the people who were taken by surprise were killed or

captured; few escaped. The captured Africans were now on their way to

the slave ships. "Bound together two by two with heavy wooden yokes

fastened around their necks, a long line of black men and women plodded

down a well-worn path through the dense forest. Most of the men were

workers had the same harsh hours in the hot southern sun. Even

thousands of Africans still lost their lives on the journey to the new

ith huge elephants' tusks. Others, and many of the women too,

process. Ships from England would pull up on the coast of Africa, and

babies, carrying water to the fields. By the age of ten, they were

After they were marched often hundreds of miles, it was time for them to

Some topics in this essay:
West Africa, Southern DuBois, Carolina Buckmaster, Ships England, World Women, Seasickness Conditions, Emancipation Proclamation, Atlantic African, Virginia Alabama's, America Slavery, slave trade, slaves america, slaves doctors, trading slaves, seventeenth century, captured homes, west africa, slave ships, bottom ship, days week,