British involvement in Transatlantic Slave Trade
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain the role of Britain in the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
Key learning points
- The British arrived in West Africa from the 1660s, with the support of King Charles II and later King James II.
- The arrival of the British led to more conflict between and within kingdoms in West Africa.
- Before enslaved labour was used on plantations, Britain used a system of indentured labour.
- Barbados was the most profitable colony with the growth of sugar.
- The British transported enslaved people to new colonies in the Caribbean, such as Jamaica and Barbados.
Keywords
Colonisation - the process of one person or a group of people taking control of another country or state and settling on that land
Plantations - areas of land on which certain crops were grown, usually using forced labour
Enslaved people - people who have been forced to work, lose their freedom and become the property of another person
Indentured labour - a system where someone is made to work without pay for a set period of time
Slave holder - someone who owned an enslaved person
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.
Teacher tip
When explaining the arrival of the British, emphasise the varied impact on West African societies. With the example of Kongo we can see that even were rulers participated in the trade, that did not always reflect the attitudes of their people.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.The Transatlantic Slave Trade was a three point trade between Europe, the Americas and ...
Q2.By 1600, which European nation had captured and sold over 150,000 African people into slavery in their American colonies?
Q3.Elmina Castle was built in 1482 and was used to hold goods to trade and then later enslaved people; where was it built?
Q4.Which kingdom's rulers, known as Obas, refused to sell their people into slavery, despite continuing trade with Europeans?
Q5.By the late 1600s, which group of local people in West Africa were no longer protected from being enslaved?
Q6.Which of the following kingdoms is an example of a kingdom that suffered because of their alliance with European merchants?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Who arrived in the Caribbean for the first time in 1492, claiming land for Spain?
Q2.Match each word to the correct definition.
Q3.Which of the following countries had begun colonising the Americas by the early 1500s?
Q4.Which uninhabited island did 80 British colonists settle on in 1627?
Q5.Which of the following is the best definition of 'indentured labour'?
Q6.Which of the following is the best definition of 'slave society'?
To help you plan your 8 history lesson on: British involvement in Transatlantic Slave Trade, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 history lesson on: British involvement in 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.