Middle passage

More than 12.5 million people were taken from Africa in the four centuries of the Atlantic slave trade. The transport of enslaved Africans formed one leg of the Triangular Trade, an economic system that drastically altered the societies of four continents. The sheer scale of the trade can obscure the experiences of individuals. In this lesson, students consider individual experiences of the Middle Passage by exploring a textbook account and four primary sources.

The Middle Passage, 1749 | Historians estimate that approximately 472,000 Africans were kidnapped and brought to the North American mainland between 1619 and 1860. | Historians estimate that approximately 472,000 Africans were kidnapped and brought to the North American mainland between 1619 and 1860. Of these, nearly 18 percent died during the transatlantic voyage from Africa to the New World. Known as the "middle passage," this sea voyage could range from one to six months, depending on…

Illustration showing the USS Constitution, a three-masted frigate launched in 1797.

Slave body positions in a slave ship during the Middle Passage

The Middle Passage: Being on board a slave ship was a dastardly experience, there you were forcibly stripped bare naked , and with you were your father and mother, your friends and family all berated together on the same vessel of madness. Artwork: The Middle Passage by Tom Feelings .

Middle Passage Maps 1495 image search results

This Tribute is for the ancestors who are unknown because they were omitted from the history books. Unknown because they were victims of an early demise and never given a chance at life.

Most Kidnappings of Africans From the 15th to 19th century, the Portuguese exported 4.7 million enslaved Africans to the Americas, making it Europe’s