Blog #3

I would have to argue that economics was the one of the most important factors in slave trade, if not the most important influence. Economic benefit was just one of the few factors that led European nations to colonize, along with religious zeal and territory ownership. I would also argue that racism was not a cause of the colonization but it kept fueling it once colonies were established in the Americas. The Europeans didn't sail to Africa with the intent oppress an entire race. They wanted workers for their new plantations that were set up in the New World. Additionally, Europeans weren't the only ones that were started the slave trade. They received help from wealthy merchants from the countries on Africa's east coast who captured civilians and sold them to the Europeans. So it wasn't about black versus white at the start, in hindsight it was blacks versus blacks to see who could profit the most off of selling their own kind. Again that all can be traced for the peoples want for economic gain. But racism grew in the colonies as time passed and it became a driving force which created rules and regulations for slaves, such as if you were born to a mother that was a slave, you were a slave for life. I'd also say that Europeans used this to create an oppressed working class at their disposal and for their profit. So to sum it up, economics was the origin of the slave trade and for most colonization in general. I'd also argue that several years after the start of the slave trade, Europeans grasped the idea that they could use racism as a tool for profit and power.