The Atlantic Slave Trade - Essay Example

The cotton pickers derived a state of independence in the pioneer upcountry South Carolina, owing to a shortage of labor. The tobacco bands achieved their purpose in the Chesapeake from the small size of the productive units. The sugar workers derived independence throughout America on account of the need to harvest and rapidly grind the cane. Thus, these three staple crops accounted for the attainment of some amount of independence by the slaves.Which historiographical school of thought—or combination of schools—about the Atlantic slave trade do you find most compelling and why?

What is the thesis and argument of Eric Williams?Eric Williams’ thesis is on Capitalism and Slavery. Eric Williams argues that the industrial revolution was partly due to the fact that the profits earned from slavery were fundamental to Britain. He also argued that British industrialization was funded by Caribbean sugar plantations. This, in turn, accounted for slavery becoming an outdated mode of production. Williams powerfully concluded that the commercial capitalism of the eighteenth century developed the wealth of Europe by means of slavery and monopoly.

But in so doing it helped to create the industrial capitalism of the nineteenth century, which turned round and destroyed the power of commercial capitalism, slavery, and all its works. Without a grasp of these economic changes, the history of the period is meaningless. He also argues that the slave trade and slavery were abolished as they were no longer profitable. What is the thesis and argument of David Eltis?David Eltis has a thesis on the Abolition of the slave trade. He believes that particularly for the Atlantic region, similar to the British Empire, the slave trade did not expire naturally.

Rather, it was killed when its significance to the Americas and to a lesser extent Europe was greater than at any point, in its history. Do you think William’s position and Eltis’s positions are opposed, mutually exclusive, supportive of each other, or complementary? Why?Their positions are opposed to each other. Eric William is of the view that slavery ended as it was no longer profitable for the Americas. Whereas David Eltis argues that slavery ended when the significance of slavery grew beyond limits for the Americas and Europe.

Which view do you find more compelling? Why?The view of David Eltis is more compelling. This is so because analyzing the abolition of the slave trade, it was a system that was gaining strength rather than faltering or being on the point of collapsing. The West Indies were continuously rather than declining and continued to expand even after the abolition of the slave trade. The chapter heading poses the question, was the Atlantic slave trade caused by racism or economic profit? How would you answer that question? Explain. The Atlantic slave trade was caused due to both racism and economic profit.

The labor shortage was primarily responsible for the Atlantic slave trade. Initially, natives were utilized for slave labor. But with their death due to overwork and diseases, alternative sources of labor were to be sought. It was always profitable and cost-effective for Europe to export goods and crops from the New World as many crops could not be grown in Europe. As there was a need to export crops and goods, Western Africa and Central Africa became the main sources for providing enslaved people.