Does the ‘Middle Passage’ deserve its awful reputation? Source 1Diagram showing how slaves could be accommodated aboard a slave ship and the accompanying explanation. Taken from Thomas Clarkson, The history of the rise, progress and accomplishment of the abolition of the African slave-trade, London, 1808.
Your task is to determine just how awful conditions were aboard the slave ships.All the sources have been chosen to help you in this task. Once you have read the source and thought about the things to consider, you might find it helpful to make some notes on the worksheet. Things to consider… Do you think that the space allowance made for each man, woman and child is sufficient? (You could try measuring people in your class or at home to see how much space you think each person might need.) What does the report say hasn’t been taken into consideration when showing the layout of slaves? What impact would this have on living conditions? Does William Dolben’s Act seem like a good thing or a bad thing? Why? The illustration of the slave ship was used as propaganda by the Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade. Do you think it would have worked? What impact do you think it would have made? Does the ‘Middle Passage’ deserve its awful reputation? Source 2A slave’s description of life aboard a slave ship. Taken from Olaudah Equiano, The Interesting Narrative of the life of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa as written by himself, London, 1789.
Does the ‘Middle Passage’ deserve its awful reputation? Source 3Evidence of Mr Falconbridge regarding conditions aboard a slave ship. Taken from An Abridgement of the Minutes of Evidence taken before a Committee Considering the Slave Trade, 1789.
Your task is to determine just how awful conditions were aboard the slave ships.All the sources have been chosen to help you in this task. Once you have read the source and thought about the things to consider, you might find it helpful to make some notes on the worksheet. Things to consider… According to Mr Falconbridge, what do some slaves do with regard to food and medicine? Why do you think that they would do that? Falconbridge mentions how many slaves were lost on the voyages that he made. Try to work out the percentages. According to Mr Falconbridge, what are the main causes of deaths amongst slaves? Does the ‘Middle Passage’ deserve its awful reputation? Source 4Evidence of Mr Knox describing conditions on board a slave ship. Taken from An Abridgement of the Minutes of Evidence taken before a Committee considering the Slave Trade, 1789.
Your task is to determine just how awful conditions were aboard the slave ships.All the sources have been chosen to help you in this task. Once you have read the source and thought about the things to consider, you might find it helpful to make some notes on the worksheet. Things to consider… Knox describes conditions aboard a slave ship. How does his account compare to the accounts given in the other sources? If it helps, use the headers of food and diet, space and living conditions, and treatment of the slaves to help structure your answer. Do you think Knox’s description of life aboard a slave ship is accurate? Would there be any reason for Knox to exaggerate or not tell the truth? |
