The structure of the Transatlantic Slave Trade
I can describe the Transatlantic Slave Trade and explain how it developed.
The structure of the Transatlantic Slave Trade
I can describe the Transatlantic Slave Trade and explain how it developed.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The Triangular trade was the system of trade across the Atlantic.
- Manufactured goods were transported from Europe to be traded in West Africa.
- Enslaved people were transported across the Atlantic and forced to work on plantations.
- Crops like tobacco, sugar and cotton would be grown by enslaved people on plantations and then sold in Europe.
- As slavery had existed across Africa, European traders used this to take enslaved people to their colonies in America.
Keywords
Colonies - colonies are countries or areas under the control of another country and occupied by settlers from that country
Indigenous - indigenous people are the original inhabitants of a specific area
Manufactured - manufactured items are items produced by a machine
Plantations - plantations are areas of land on which certain crops were grown using forced labour
Middle Passage - the forced voyage of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas became known as the Middle Passage
Common misconception
The triangular trade was a simple trading route with three main points.
The triangular trade was a complex system of trade, that is often simplified to help us better understand it.
To help you plan your year 8 history lesson on: The structure of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 8 history lesson on: The structure of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 history lessons from the Transatlantic Slavery: how were West African societies impacted? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
areas under the control of another country
the original inhabitants of a specific area
items produced by a machine
land on which crops were grown usually with forced labour
voyage of enslaved African people across the Atlantic