Given the horrific realities of the slave trade, why were European governments and public opinion so slow to respond to its inhuman practices? What role did religion, economics, race and sheer ignorance play in ignoring the plight of the African slaves? How could any human being justify or rationalize taking part in the slave trade?
(Above: Diagram of a Slave Ship -- Click to enlarge)
(Above: Diagram of a Slave Ship -- Click to enlarge)
9 comments:
I agree with Danny P. They knew what they were doing was wrong, but the tried to make themselves feel better about it by saying it is just. It is ironic how they used slaves for the good of their country, but at the same time it was God's will. It is similar in other religious beliefs that it is justified to kill in the name of their god.
I agree with Danny. Slave owners and trader did not see slaves as humans, and therefore had no feelings toward their pain. With the large profits that slave owners were making, slave owners rejected all ideas of abolishing slavery from politicians by threatning to not vote for them in the next election. Therefore making new legislation for slaves became impossible. If it were not for the civil war the US would still have slavery today.
I'm pleased that a distinguished alumnus, Martin DeLaPaz, has joined in -- Welcome!
I find it interesting, this discussion of the religious justifications for the slave trade. Did you know that Bartolome de las Casas, who decryed the treatment of "los Indios" in the Spanish possessions of the New World as being highly unChristian, then turned around and advocated imorting Africas as slave labor to alleviate the suffering of Native Americans?
Twisted...
I agree with Danny but not fully. Everything back in those days was based on slavery and without slavery the economy would have collapsed. Religion was a huge part of life so why not have slavery if it was present in the bible and which showed that they had no regrets since slavery was depicted in the bible. However, I disagree with Danny on the part where he states that he pities the Europeans for their role in slave trade. This is unnecessary due to the fact that slave trade was a normal aspect in life during that period. For example it's just like saying someone 100 years from now will have pity for me for buying a can of pop to drink from a grocery store. Slave trade was just as normal as that! Europeans were not ignorant because it was just their normal way of life.
I agree with the guys above about slaves not being seen as humans. They were consider property in which the owners could work them day until night to make money from the products they make. The European government and the public didn't mention anything because they knew they would lose out on everything they have. Religion played a role because the bible shows slavery. Economy played a role because it was increasing thanks to the slaves. Sheer ignorance also played a role because they knew African slaves were defenseless against them. I agree with Danny by having pity on them because they would not like it if they were treated like property. On the other hand, i agree with Fadie because back then it was a normal way of life for the owners to make money and have their products produce. Thus, this would make me in between about taking part in the slave trade.
I agree with Danny. The European governments and public opinion took so long to realize that slavery was inhuman, due to the fact that slavery was helping out the economy. Europeans only saw the benefits of slavery not the terrible things that the slaves were going though. Many slave owners saw the practice of slavery as a right thing to do because they justified it with the bible. The bible shows slavery and they saw it to be right. Another reason is that the whites saw themselves superior to the blacks. All theses reasons blinded the Europeans from seeing the horrific realities of the slave trade.
There are many reasons why they did not respond to these practices quickly. For one Slavery was a big profit for the slave owner because it was free labor besides food and housing. Also slaves were just property to them and they were not viewed as humans and they thought they could do as liked with them. Another reason is just that they were plain ignorant. They saw slaves as less because they were of a different color skin. They thought they were better than them and had the right to do as they wish because slaves didn't know better.
They also use the bible to justify themselves because in the bible it was alright to have slaves. They knew they were in the wrong but did nothing about it because it was for white men's own good.
I think some of the people that had to deal with the slave trade, really had no choice. It was an economic evil. Fadie makes the point that slavery was based on the economy. That would have been the major reason, and most blatant. The idea that the only income you could achieve was through subjecting other life forms to be subordinate and do your bidding may be a motive for evil people to take advatange of these people, but you have to remember where they were buying these people from. These Africans would sell their mates in order to gain some cash. Thats just the blank truth of it all and there really wasnt much anything could be done to change it. Its that whole survival of the fittest mentality that made it such a bad thing.
i disagree with regina when she states "The European government and the public didn't mention anything because they knew they would lose out on everything they have. " because at that time slavery was perfectly normal and nobody had anything to mention about it but that it was the normal "White" popular way of living. to have slaves clean,cook, and work for you at no cost Who would want to mention anything against it! I also disagree when europeans see slave correct in their eyes because the bibble also contains it. But wasnt jesus christ beaten and then murdered at the cross? didnt he give up his life to forgive the human race of sins? then why do white people see it correct to abuse of "black" people The stories in the bible are maily teaching lessons. Religion cannot be a safe scapegoat for slavery. - on everything else i agree with dany p
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