Reasons for the development of the slave tradeThe shortage of labour
The British played a major part in the Atlantic slave trade. Enslaved Africans were the most profitable source of labour. Britain’s military and commercial strength were vital in its development.
At first European farmers had attempted to use indigenous populations as a source of labour.
Indigenous peoples
Enslaving indigenous peoples did not meet the needs of the Europeans. Local populations were too small to meet the planters' demands. Death rates were high due to:
lack of immunity to European disease epidemics such as smallpox
the ill-treatment and killing of those who resisted
