How did conditions in the New World transform the traditional character of the slave trade?

Answer 1

1. Conditions in the Americas transformed the traditional character of slave trade because had it not been for the colonization of the New World, slavery might have died. In Africa, slavery was primarily the result of being captured during war or people who committed a crime. It was possible to sell yourself into slavery as a means of paying off a debt and it was not hereditary. In the African record, it shows that slaves could become court officials, military leaders, and have a lot of power, but still be considered socially as slaves. Instead, slavery morphed from a source of trade to a supply of human labor. The desire for sugar in Europe and consequently the need for male field laborers to work the plantations also played a part in transforming the traditional character of slave trade.