Beginnings of The British Involvement in The Slave Trade

It was not until the year 1556 when the English embarked on a ship named the Negro to set out on their first attempt at the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. The English did not become involved in the slave trade until later because they were preoccupied with African produce rather than the transportation of slaves. Charters were granted to merchants located on the western coast of Africa to supply ivory, gold, pepper, and indigo. In the year 1625, Barbados was claimed by King James I and would soon be introduced to the sugar cane by Dutch merchants. 

The Negro was only an attempt because, during the ships journey, the Dutch captured the slaves and took them to the Americas. With a total of ninety-four slaves captured from West African, seventy made the journey. Hancock, was the captains name and based on the Slave Voyages Database, this journey was probably his first and last. 

Even though England's first try at the slave trade was not successful, this does not mean they stopped here. Great Britain goes on to become the second most successful slave-trading nation.

Britain and The Slave Trade. (n.d.). Retrieved October 8, 2015, from http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/slavery

A Brief Overview of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. (2009). Retrieved October 8, 2015.

SLO #1 & #2