What did the British use African slaves for?

Answer 1

The British didn't generally have slaves themselves (they were too valuable a commodity), in fact England was one of the first countries to abolish it (1807).

What they were guilty of was taking advantage of the Slave trade that had existed in Africa over many thousands of years. In tribal warfare Africans regularly used captured enemy's as slaves. The English purchased the slaves from the Tribes in the area and shipped them to the Americas where the sold them at a profit taking the rewards back to England. This was known as the "Golden Triangle".

What started as a casual trade developed into what we now call the Slave trade and over a short period of time and some African tribes themselves became Slave traders, capturing anyone who could provide a profit (Not just through tribal warfare).

It is fair to note that England though the most successfull, was not the only European country involved in the Slave trade, the French and Dutch and others also turned their hands to slavery.

Answer 2

Before the slave-trade was banned in the 1800's, the British used slaves for their plantations in the Caribbean and the Americas (before the American revolution). In the Caribbean, slaves were used to produce sugar and molasses. In North America, slaves were used to produce cotton.

Slaves were also used as house servants or construction workers, but these cases were a minority.

Slavery fueled much of the Britain's economy. It was an extremely lucrative business, as it meant free labor for highly valued exports.

Sameer