The Transatlantic Slave Trade
I can recall that between the 16th and 18th centuries many enslaved West Africans were transported to the Americas and forced to work on plantations.
The Transatlantic Slave Trade
I can recall that between the 16th and 18th centuries many enslaved West Africans were transported to the Americas and forced to work on plantations.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Before the arrival of the Europeans, West Africa was wealthy and central to growing trade networks.
- The arrival of the Europeans de-stabilised West African society and led to the trade in enslaved people.
- Between the 16th and 19th centuries, enslaved West Africans were transported to work on plantations in the Americas.
- Those who were enslaved faced brutal conditions on the plantations and the loss of their freedom.
- The enslaved West Africans brought with them a mixture of language and traditions.
Keywords
Transatlantic Slave Trade - the trade from the 16th to 19th centuries that transported enslaved African peoples to the Americas
Plantation - an area of land on which certain crops were grown using forced labour
Enslaved person - a person who has been forced to work without pay, lose their freedom and become the property of another person; sources often refer to them as slaves
Indentured servitude - a system where someone is made to work without pay for a set period of time
Common misconception
Britain was always involved in the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
Britain became involved in the trade in the 1500s, initially selling enslaved people onto plantations in Spanish and Portuguese colonies.
To help you plan your year 10 history lesson on: The Transatlantic Slave Trade, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 history lesson on: 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 4 history lessons from the Migration: what caused westward migration from the 16th to the 18th centuries? 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 required
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
