Colonial Economy

This week we focused on the economy of the colonies, that is, how money was made and who did the work. As part of our investigation, you did a map of the Triangle Trade routes.

Triangle Trade was a dangerous but lucrative exchange of goods and people. The major components of the trade included rum, slaves and sugar. While our text simplifies the exchange, students who checked multiple sources (like the good historians you are becoming) learned that the routes included stops in Europe, Africa, the West Indies and the Colonies and numerous goods were exchanged. This was a crucial moment in our history, as the importation of slaves and its impact on our history and culture are still with us today. A series of lectures and workshops are being held at Brown University this year to reevaluate the history of slavery. We will all benefit from this reexamination and its ultimate recommendations.

Around 1660, Virginia and Maryland began passing laws to define the status of Africans as slaves. Historians estimate that between 9 and 12 million slaves came to the Americas from 1600 to 1808. Of this number, approximately 350,000 came into the Colonies. The slaves were needed in the West Indies to work on sugar plantations and in the Colonies to work on tobacco and eventually cotton plantations. Slaves were also used in the Middle and Northern Colonies as servants and craftsmen.

The portion of the trade route between Africa and the West Indies was known as The Middle Passage. Slaves endured packed conditions, heat, and disease.

New Englanders, and most notably Rhode Islanders, were an integral part of slave trading. New England ship owners carried rum and other products to Africa where they were exchanged for slaves. The ships transported the slaves to the West Indies to be sold. Sugar and molasses were purchased and brought to New England to be made into rum.

Slave trading was dangerous but profitable. The crew was subjected to stormy weather, possible slave rebellions and disease.

Next week, we will be reading more about The Middle Passage from the perspective of a slave and the captain of a slave ship (good historians look at multiple perspectives). We will also be reading primary source accounts from a Newport Captain and slave trader.


Strategies

While engaging in our study of history we are also learning skills and strategies to be better readers. As you read, make sure you ask yourself what you already know about a topic, ask questions of the reading and try to make connections. By taking these steps, you will become more efficient readers. You can use these strategies any time you read.

Coming Attractions

Make sure to continue working on your colony chart. The information you are gathering will help you organize your essay (soon to be announced).


Progress Reports

On Friday, you updated your portfolio and reflected on your progress to date. I like that word “progress,” as it means “a moving forward or onward.” If you are meeting standard, congratulations, and keep up the good work. If you are below standard, make a plan to improve. Do you need to put more time into your homework? Have you missed current events? Have you given up the opportunity to revise work? Have you developed a strategy to stay organized?

I have no doubt that all of you can be successful. Keep in mind:

“Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.”