Instruction
Throughout the course we have explored the diverse and sometimes conflicting perspectives on the Transatlantic Slave Trade, both from historical actors as well as present day historians. These final exam questions ask you to put yourself into the historical context of the Transatlantic Slave Trade or into the contemporary debates on the trade from various perspectives. This exercise will allow you to integrate together your knowledge of the key concepts from the course with your own reflective critical thinking skills:
1.You are a college professor anywhere in the globe explaining to students why the Transatlantic Slave Trade first began and grew over time. Use evidence from the readings to trace the development of the slave trade—why did European colonists in the New World turn to slavery as a source of labor? Why Africans? Use specific evidence from the course materials to back up both arguments.
2. You are an abolitionist in the early nineteenth century. Advocate for the abolition of the slave trade. Make sure to also counter the arguments of those who argued that the slave trade should continue because of its economic profitability. Use evidence on both sides from the course materials in making your argument
3. You are a prisoner of war from the interior of Africa caught up as a captive in the slave trade. Explain the circumstances you and other captives might face, including on the West African Coast, during the Middle Passage, and in the Americas. Use specific evidence from the course materials to explore the horrific realities of the slave trade for its victims