Slave Ships

Aaron Blackwell

The Ships

The earliest ships used to transport human beings from

Africa to enslavement in North America were converted
merchantmen; later, special vessels were built, equipped with
air scuttles, ports, and open gratings.1

Mannix, Daniel. "Slave Ships." Dictionary of American History. 2003. Encyclopedia.com.

(October 2, 2016). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3401803888.html
1

Diagram of a Slave
Ships Hold

Media, Encyclopedia Virginia, April 17, 2012, accessed October 3, 2016,

http://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/media_player?mets_filename=evr4303mets.xml.
2

Treatment and
Conditions For Slaves

People were packed shoulder to shoulder into a ships hold;

they were shackled together in darkness for hours on end
and only allowed out for short amounts of time during which
they were forced to exercise and eat.3

The hold on most slave ships was only several feet high, thus
forcing slaves to crouch or lay down allowing for very little
movement.3

A lack of adequate air flow in the hold combine with the

extremely tight quarters and limited time outside led to
highly unsanitary conditions in which diseases easily spread
and many people died.3
Life on Board Slave Ships - International Slavery Museum, Liverpool Museums, National Museums Liverpool,
2016, accessed October 2, 2016, http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/ism/slavery/middle_passage/.
3

Treatment and
Conditions For Crew

Aside from not being shackled in the hold, crewmembers on a

slave ship were not much better off than that of the slaves.
Often crewmembers were severely punished for small
infractions.4

The spread of disease was as much a problem for the crew as

it was for the slaves.5

When crewmembers died their families often had difficulty

collecting their effects; the fact that most crewmembers were
illiterate and therefore could not write a will, thus further
complicated things.5
"PortCities Bristol." How Were the Crew Treated? Accessed October 02, 2016.
http://discoveringbristol.org.uk/slavery/people-involved/sailors/slave-ships-crew/crew-treatment/.
4

Slave Ships and the Middle Passage, Encyclopedia Virginia, April 17, 2012, accessed October
2, 2016, http://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Slave_Ships_and_the_Middle_Passage.
5

Revolution

Attempts at revolt were not uncommon on board slave ships.

Tensions were high between slaves and crew and the terrible
conditions aboard the ships caused many to feel they had
nothing to lose.5

Revolution was typically unsuccessful as slave ships were

armed with cannons and crewmembers had quick access to
muskets and other weapons.5

In some cases slaves managed to take over the ships.

Several attempts at revolution led to the death of nearly
everyone aboard the ship. i.e. The Ghost Ship. 5

Slave Ships and the Middle Passage, Encyclopedia Virginia, April 17, 2012, accessed
October 2, 2016, http://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Slave_Ships_and_the_Middle_Passage.
5

Millions of People

Between 1514 and 1866 a total of 10,645,118 Africans

were forced into a ships hold, 12.1% or 1,464,200 of
whom died during the journey.6

Media, Encyclopedia Virginia, April 17, 2012, accessed October 3, 2016,

http://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/media_player?mets_filename=evr4303mets.xml.
2

Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database. 2013. Accessed October 2, 2016.

http://www.slavevoyages.org/voyage/search.
6

John Newton
I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not
what I hope to be in another world; but still I am not what I once
used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am