AFRICA and the

ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE(S)

A BALANCED APPROACH

DR. BRUCE M. HAIGHT

WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY

KRESA TEACHERS WORKSHOP

March 19, 2008
 MDE CONTENT
EXPECTATIONS
STRENGTHS:
* HELPFUL FRAMEWORK
* DEVELOPED WITH RECENT INPUT

CHALLENGES:
* CAN BE TWEAKED
* CURRENT TEXTS OFTEN DO NOT
REFLECT RECENT SCHOLARSHIP
WHATS A TEACHER TO DO
TO SUPPLEMENT TEXTS?
ATTEND MCSS FOR LECTURES AND
WORKSHOPS
PARTICIPATE IN SUMMER
WORKSHOPS
TAKE ADDITIONAL COURSES
FIND RELIABLE WEBSITES AND DO
WEBSEARCHES
SET UP A READING PROGRAM TO
UPDATE LESSON PLANS
 OBJECTIVES OF THIS
LECTURE
PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO RELEVANT
WEBSITES, BOOKS, & ARTICLES THAT
DRAW UPON MORE RECENT RESEARCH
IDENTIFY THEMES ON THE ATLANTIC
SLAVE TRADE OFTEN MISSING FROM
CURRENT TEXTS
SPECIFIC SUGGESTIONS FOR
TWEAKING THE MDE CONTENT
EXPECTATIONS
 WHERE TO BEGIN?
DR. HAIGHTS WEBSITE THAT GIVES
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON RELIABLE
RESOURCES
http://www.wmich.edu/library/cg/405

EMAIL: bruce.haight@wmich.edu

WMU HISTORY DEPARTMENT WEBSITE FOR

WORKSHOP INFORMATION
http://www.wmich.edu/history/
 FABULOUS WEBSITE FREE
FOR ALL MICHIGAN
RESIDENTS
MICHIGAN ELECTRONIC LIBRARY
http://www.mel.org/
At their home page look under Mel Databases
For books: click on WorldCat
Then go to MELCAT to borrow the book

For articles (free download full text): click on

InfoTrac World History Collection
MISSING THEMES ON THE
ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE

DETAILED INFORMATION IS NOW

AVAILABLE ON DEMAND TO TEACHERS
AND YOUR STUDENTS ON NEARLY 27,000
VOYAGES ACROSS THE MIDDLE
PASSAGE

SOURCE: THE TRANSATLANTIC SLAVE

TRADE: A DATA BASE ON CD-ROM
 MISSING THEMES ON THE
ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE
WHAT MOVED IN THE COLUMBIAN
EXCHANGE WAS MORE THAN SEEDS
AND PLANTS; KNOWLEDGE
SYSTEMS ALSO MOVED

SOURCEBOOK:
JUDITH CARNEY, BLACK RICE
 MISSING THEMES ON THE
ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE
SLAVERY IN NORTH AMERICA CHANGED
OVER TIME

- CHARTER GENERATIONS
- PLANTATION GENERATIONS
- REVOLUTIONARY GENERATIONS

SOURCEBOOK:
IRA BERLIN, MANY GENERATIONS GONE
SOCIETIES WITH SLAVES:
THE CHARTER GENERATIONS

SLAVE SOCIETIES:
THE PLANTATION GENERATIONS

SLAVE AND FREE:

THE REVOLUTIONARY GENERATIONS
SOURCEBOOK:
IRA BERLIN, MANY GENERATIONS
GONE
 MISSING THEMES ON THE
ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE
THERE WAS MORE THAN ONE ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE

-
BLACK SLAVES FROM SUBSAHARAN
AFRICA TO THE NEW WORLD

- WHITE SLAVES FROM EUROPE AND

NORTH AMERICA TO NORTH AFRICA

SOURCEBOOK:
ROBERT DAVIS, CHRISTIAN SLAVES, MUSLIM MASTERS
FOR A PERSPECTIVE THAT
TAKES INTO ACCOUNT
AFRICAN AMERICAN VIEWS
FROM SLAVE TIMES
ONWARD

SEE MICHAEL A. GOMEZ,

REVERSING SAIL
 HOW DO WE ATTAIN
THEMATIC BALANCE?
IDENTIFY MAJOR THEMES FROM THE MDE
CONTENT EXPECTATIONS, e.g.
slavery and the slave trade.

ASK: THIS THEME IS CHARACTERISTIC OF

WHICH AREAS OF THE WORLD DURING
WHICH TIME PERIODS?

ASK: DO OUR CONTENT EXPECTATIONS

REFLECT THIS?
WHAT WOULD BALANCE LOOK
LIKE IN RELATION TO THE
ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE(S)?

WHERE & WHEN HAS SLAVERY EXISTED?

WHERE & WHEN HAS THERE BEEN A
SLAVE TRADE?
DO OUR CONTENT EXPECTATIONS
REFLECT THIS?
WHERE & WHEN HAS SLAVERY
EXISTED?

FOR BLACKS IN AFRICA:

UNTIL THE 19TH CENTURY
FOR BLACKS IN THE NEW WORLD:
16TH - 19TH CENTURY
FOR WHITES IN NORTH AFRICA:
16TH - EARLY 19TH CENTURY
 WHERE & WHEN HAS THERE
BEEN A SLAVE TRADE?
SLAVE TRADE IN BLACK SLAVES
- WITHIN AFRICA
- ACROSS THE SAHARA DESERT TO
NORTH AFRICA
- ACROSS THE ATLANTIC TO EUROPE
& THE NEW WORLD VIA THE ATLANTIC
& THE CARRIBEAN

SLAVE TRADE IN WHITE SLAVES TO N. AFRICA

- CAPTURED IN THE MEDITERRANEAN &
THE ATLANTIC FROM SHIPS
- CAPTURED FROM COASTAL TOWNS IN
EUROPE, ENGLAND, IRELAND, ICELAND
 DO OUR CONTENT
EXPECTATIONS REFLECT THAT
FROM THE 16TH THROUGH THE
19TH CENTURY THERE WERE
TWO ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADES?
12 MILLION AFRICANS LEFT AFRICA FOR THE
NEW WORLD AS SLAVES

1.25 MILLION EUROPEANS WERE CAPTURED

AND TAKEN TO NORTH AFRICA AS SLAVES
CAN & SHOULD WE TWEAK
THE MDE CONTENT
EXPECTATIONS AND
SUPPLEMENT WHAT
APPEARS IN U.S. HISTORY &
WORLD HISTORY TEXTS TO
TEACH MORE ACCURATELY
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN
THE PAST?
 ARE OUR CONTENT
EXPECTATIONS BALANCED?
With regard to all types of slavery in the same
time period & changes over time?
In that they acknowledge the impact of slavery
when it was significant?
With reference to coverage of Africa and
peoples from Africa in the U.S. as compared to
other areas and peoples?
Within materials covered at each grade level?
As students progress from Grade 5 to Middle
and to High School?
 CONTENT
EXPECTATIONS
 INTEGRATED
UNITED STATES HISTORY

GRADE FIVE

ERA 1 -
BEGINNINGS TO 1620
 GRADE 5 U1.3.1
The Five Major Regions of Africa

NORTH AFRICA
WEST AFRICA
CENTRAL AFRICA
EAST AFRICA
SOUTH AFRICA
 HOW DO THESE REGIONS
RELATE TO THE THEME: THE
ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE(S)?

WEST AFRICA NORTH AFRICA

CENTRAL AFRICA
EAST AFRICA

SOUTH AFRICA
 GRADE 5 U1.3.2

WEST AFRICA BEFORE 1500

 THE ECONOMY
IN WEST AFRICA
BEFORE 1500
MOST WEST AFRICANS
EARNED THEIR LIVING

* FARMING
* AS PASTORALISTS
* FISHING
 DESERTIFICATION AND
INNOVATION 300 BC - 300 CE
THE AREA OF THE SAHARA DESERT
BECAME MUCH DRYER

GLABERRIMA RICE DOMESTICATED

ALONG THE NIGER RIVER BY 300 CE

STATES AND THE THREE MAJOR

EMPIRES EMERGED IN THIS AREA
 THE ECONOMY
IN WEST AFRICA
BEFORE 1500
SOME WEST AFRICANS EARNED THEIR
LIVING IN:

TRADE - AS MERCHANTS
IRON MAKING & BLACKSMITHING
POLITICS
MILITARY SERVICE
 FAMILY STRUCTURES
IN WEST AFRICA
BEFORE 1500
PATRILINEAL / MATRILINEAL

HOUSEHOLDS OFTEN INCLUDED FREE

& SLAVE MEMBERS

THE FAMILY AND HOUSEHOLD WERE

FOUNDATIONAL FOR ECONOMIC AND
POLITICAL LIFE
 WHICH WEST AFRICAN
PEOPLES CAN WE USE TO
REPRESENT OUR THEMES?
FARMERS - BAMBARA, BAGA,
YORUBA, & IGBO

PASTORALISTS - FULANI

FISHERMEN - DO & KRU

 WHICH WEST AFRICAN
PEOPLES CAN WE USE TO
REPRESENT OUR THEMES?

FARMERS - MALINKE
TRADERS - MALINKE
IRONWORKERS - MALINKE
POLITICIANS - MALINKE
MILITARY - MALINKE
 THE GROWTH OF TRADE
IN WEST AFRICA
BEFORE 1500
WITHIN WEST AFRICA

FROM WEST AFRICA ACROSS THE SAHARA

DESERT TO NORTH AFRICA
 THE GROWTH OF
VILLAGES, TOWNS & CITIES
IN WEST AFRICA
BEFORE 1500

LARGER CITIES IN THE INTERIOR

VILLAGES NEARER THE COAST

 THE GROWTH OF STATES
IN WEST AFRICA
BEFORE 1500
THE GREAT EMPIRES OF GHANA (800-1200), MALI (1200-1500),
AND SONGHAI (1500-1600) WERE IN THE INTERIOR ALONG
THE NIGER RIVER

SMALLER STATES WERE ON THE FRINGES OF THE EMPIRES

ACEPHALOUS GROUPS WERE IN OUTLYING AND DEFENSIBLE

REGIONS

THE MOST DENSELY POPULATED AREA OF WEST AFRICA WAS

THEN IN THE INTERIOR, NOT ALONG THE COAST. THIS WOULD
REVERSE LATER BY THE END OF THE SLAVE TRADE.
 GRADE 5 U1.4
THREE WORLD
INTERACTIONS

FROM THE LATE-15TH THROUGH

THE 17TH CENTURY
 GRADE 5 U1.4.1

THE CONVERGENCE OF
EUROPEANS, AMERICAN INDIANS
AND AFRICANS IN NORTH AMERICA
FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE
AFRICANS FROM 1492 TO 1700
 GRADE 5 U1.4.4

THE COLUMBIAN EXCHANGE

AND ITS IMPACT ON
EUROPEANS,
AMERICAN INDIANS AND
AFRICANS 1492-1700
THE COLUMBIAN EXCHANGE:
ITS IMPACT ON AFRICA
STAPLE CROPS FROM THE NEW WORLD
THAT WERE ADOPTED ALONG THE WEST
AFRICAN COAST

CASSAVA / MANIOC (TAPIOCA)

MAIZE
OKRA
GROUNDNUTS (PEANUTS)
CAPISCUM PEPPERS
THE COLUMBIAN EXCHANGE:
ITS IMPACT ON AFRICA

STAPLE CROPS FROM THE NEW WORLD

THAT WEST AFRICANS BROUGHT TO
NORTH AMERICA

OKRA
GROUNDNUTS (PEANUTS)
CAPISCUM PEPPERS
THE COLUMBIAN EXCHANGE:
ITS IMPACT ON AFRICA

STAPLE CROPS DOMESTICATED IN

AFRICA THAT WEST AFRICANS
BROUGHT TO NORTH AMERICA
GLABERRIMA RICE
GUINEA CORN (SORGHUM)
MILLETS
BLACK-EYED PEAS
THE COLUMBIAN EXCHANGE:

WEST AFRICAN
KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS FOR
GROWING RICE RESULTED IN
SLAVES INTRODUCING THE
MOST PROFITABLE CROP TO
SOUTH CAROLINA
 ERA 2 -
COLONIZATION AND
SETTLEMENT

1585-1763
 GRADE 5 U2.1.1

SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE

SOUTHERN COLONIES 1585-1763

THE DEVELOPMENT OF ONE-CROP

ECONOMIES:
A. RICE IN SOUTH CAROLINA
B. TOBACCO IN VIRGINIA

THE DEVELOPMENT OF SLAVERY

 GRADE 5 U2.1.2

SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE

NEW ENGLAND COLONIES 1585-1763

(A BALANCED VIEW?
ODDLY - NOTHING ON SLAVERY LISTED)
 GRADE 5 U2.1.3

SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE

MIDDLE COLONIES 1585-1763

(A BALANCED VIEW? ODDLY -

NOTHING ON SLAVERY LISTED)
 GRADE 5 U2.1.4

COMPARE REGIONAL SETTLEMENT PATTERNS OF THE

SOUTHERN COLONIES, NEW ENGLAND, AND THE MIDDLE
COLONIES 1585-1763
 GRADE 5 U2.2

THE EUROPEAN SLAVE TRADE AND SLAVERY

IN COLONIAL AMERICA 1585-1763
 GRADE 5 U2.2.1
THE TRIANGULAR TRADE
A MORE BALANCED VIEW

1441-1585

1585-1763 (1808)

THE 19TH CENTURY

 GRADE 5 U2.2.1
THE TRIANGULAR TRADE
1585-1763 (1808)

ROUTES
PEOPLES AND GOODS TRADED
THE MIDDLE PASSAGE
THE IMPACT ON LIFE IN AFRICA
 THE TRIANGULAR TRADE:
WEST AFRICA TO NORTH
AMERICA
THE CHARTER GENERATION

ROUTE: THE GRAIN COAST TO CARLESTON,

SOUTH CAROLINA

PEOPLES TRADED
- rice farmers
(especially women and children)
- cattle herders
 THE TRIANGULAR TRADE TO
SOUTH CAROLINA

IMPACT IN NORTH AMERICA

AFRICANS OF THE CHARTER GENERATION

INTRODUCED THREE NEW SYSTEMS OF
GROWING RICE
UPLAND RICE
RICE IN INLAND FRESHWATER SWAMPS
RICE IN TIDAL ESTUARIES (SALT AND FRESH WATER)

CONDITIONS WORSENED: STONOS REBELLION 1739

 THE TRIANGULAR TRADE
TO SOUTH CAROLIINA

IMPACT ON LIFE IN WEST AFRICA

BANCE ISLAND IN THE SIERRA LEONE RIVER

BECAME AN IMPORTANT SLAVE TRADING PORT IN
AN AREA WITH KINGDOMS

PARADOX: THE BAGA, WHO WERE ACEPHALOUS,

INCREASED THEIR OWN RICE YIELD, MAINTAINED
INDEPENDENCE, AND EXPANDED THEIR
POPULATION ALONG THE COAST
 GRADE 5 U2.2.2

THE LIVES OF FREE AND ENSLAVED

AFRICANS 1585-1763
 GRADE 5 U2.2.3

AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURE: ROOTS IN

AFRICA AND NEW ADAPTATIONS
1585-1763
 GRADE 5 U2.3

LIFE IN COLONIAL AMERICA

GRADE 5 U2.3.3 GOOD BALANCE

COMPARISON INCLUDES
INDENTURED SERVANTS, ENSLAVED
PEOPLE AND FREE AFRICANS AMONG
OTHERS
 GRADE 5 U2.3.4
DESCRIBE THE EMERGING LABOR FORCE

GOOD BALANCE

INCLUDES CASH CROP FARMERS,

INDENTURED SERVANTS, SLAVES

CHARTER GENERATION: SIMILAR TO

HOUSEHOLD PATTERNS IN WEST AFRICA
 ERA 3 -
REVOLUTION AND THE NEW NATION
1754 - 1800

CONSIDER ADDING FOR BALANCE A

PARALLEL TO GRADE 8 U4.3.2
GRADE 5 U3.1.3 (b) Describe opposition to
slavery and the formation and development of
the abolitionist movement against the slave
trade
-- Militant opposition: Stonos Rebellion 1739
-- Political opposition: Quakers & aboliltionists
 GRADE 5 U3.1

CAUSES OF THE AMERICAN

REVOLUTION
A BALANCED VIEW?

THE INSTITUTION OF SLAVERY IS NOT

AMONG THE FACTORS LISTED HERE

IT COULD BE ADDRESSED IN U3.1.8

 GRADE 5 U3.2

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

AND ITS CONSEQUENCES
 GRADE 5 U3.2.3

COMPARE AND CONTRAST THE ROLE OF

WOMEN, AFRICAN-AMERICANS, AMERICAN
INDIANS & FRANCE IN HELPING SHAPE THE
OUTCOME OF THE WAR

GOOD BALANCE IF AFRICAN-AMERICANS

FIGHTING FOR THE BRITISH (1,000) AS
WELL AS FOR THE U.S. (5,000) ARE
INCLUDED
 GRADE 5 U3.3
GRADE 8 U3.3

CREATING NEW
GOVERNMENT(S)
 GRADE 5 U3.3.3
GRADE 8 U3.3.3

MAJOR ISSUES AT THE

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

GOOD BALANCE
INCLUDES SLAVERY
 GRADE 5 U3.3.4
GRADE 8 U3.3.4

ISSUES OVER
RESPRESENTATION AND
SLAVERY
GOOD BALANCE IF THE SLAVE TRADE TO
THE U.S. IS INCLUDED AMONG THE
ISSUES PRESENTED
 GRADE 7 W3.1.8
TEACH THE WIDESPREAD
PRESENCE OF SLAVERY IN
CLASSICAL CIVILIZATIONS
AND EMPIRES
THIS WILL BALANCE A TENDENCY
FOR STUDENTS TO THINK THAT
ONLY AFRICANS WERE SLAVES
WHEN THEY LATER STUDY THE
ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE
 GRADE 8 U4.1.2
FOR BALANCE, ADD AMERICAS
TREATIES/AGREEMENTS WITH THE NORTH
AFRICAN STATES OF ALGIERS IN 1784, 1785,
1795, AND TRIPOLI IN 1805, & 1815

EATONS VICTORY NEAR TRIPOLI IN 1805 RESULTED IN:

THE MARINE HYMNS LINE TO THE SHORES OF TRIPOLI

FRANCIS SCOTT KEY WRITING A SONG IN CELEBRATION OF THE

VICTORY NEAR TRIPOLI AND LATER ADAPTING IT TO BECOME THE
STAR SPANGLED BANNER
 GRADE 8 U4.1.2
FOR BALANCE, ADD AMERICAS
TREATIES/AGREEMENTS WITH THE NORTH
AFRICAN STATES OF ALGIERS IN 1784, 1785,
1795, AND TRIPOLI IN 1805, & 1815

EATONS VICTORY NEAR TRIPOLI IN 1805 RESULTED IN:

THE MARINE HYMNS LINE TO THE SHORES OF TRIPOLI

FRANCIS SCOTT KEY WRITING A SONG IN CELEBRATION OF THE

VICTORY NEAR TRIPOLI AND LATER ADAPTING IT TO BECOME THE
STAR SPANGLED BANNER
 GRADE 8 U4.2.2

THE INSTITUTION OF SLAVERY

GOOD BALANCE IF IT INCLUDES

NEW ENGLAND, THE MIDDLE
COLONIES AND THE SOUTH
 GRADE 8 U4.3.2

THE INSTITUTION OF SLAVERY

GOOD BALANCE IF IT INCLUDES

NEW ENGLAND, THE MIDDLE
COLONIES AND THE SOUTH