Week 4 Annotations_Migrations and Encounters

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Response and Annotation: Migrations and Encounters Chad Davenport HIWD 560: History of the Atlantic World February 13, 2024

Review of Material Games and Rothman continue to look into the intricate dynamics of migrations in the Atlantic World. During this time, millions of people traveled across the Atlantic Ocean, either willingly in search of better prospects or forced to relocate as slaves or indentured servants. These chapters focus on migration and the various factors, such as poverty, pursuing religious goals, or escaping conflict. But a large percentage of those who migrated were slaves, forced against their choice to cross the Atlantic. The varied conditions and experiences of those who made these voyages are illuminated in this chapter. Games and Rothman examine the economic foundations of European discovery and exploitation in the Atlantic World. European explorers discovered plenty of treasure in the Atlantic, even though they could not find the fabled El Dorado 1 . The famed city of gold brought treasure hunters to the new world to seek their fortunes. The authors say that triangular trade is an oversimplified idea, emphasizing instead the intricacy of economic structures and the resource manipulation committed by financiers and European powers 2 . Triangular trade makes it appear as if it was done because of convenience, not because of the money driving the slave trade. The exploitation of peoples and resources in the Atlantic region was further highlighted by the advent of imperialism, which was fueled by economic expansion 3 . The chapter illustrates the significant economic influence of Atlantic commerce by focusing on the crucial roles that slavery and sugar played in altering places like Barbados. The author, Thomas Benjamin, explores the complex relationships between Europeans and Native Americans, emphasizing the attempts to evangelize Native Americans. Benjamin 1 Rothman, Alison Games and Alan. Major Problems in Atlantic History. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2008. 2 Ibid 3 Ibid 1

investigates the many interactions between the aboriginal populations and the European colonists. He turned his focus to the European conversion movement, which was sparked by papal decrees to suppress infidels and preserve "barbarian nations" and intense religious enthusiasm 4 . Benjamin sheds light on the intricate relationships between religious coercion and cultural interchange in the Atlantic World during this time. Religion was used as one of the motivations for exploration and Imperialism, and we learn that the Europeans often used Religion as a front to take over the territory or fought with Religious groups whose ideals were pure but conflicted with the European motive of empire-building 5 . Games and Rothman address the cruelty and ethical defenses of the Atlantic slave trade in this chapter. They draw attention to the unsettling claim made by Captain William Snelgrave that Africans were somehow better off as slaves, which reflects the distorted ideas that were common among Europeans in the eighteenth century 6 . The writers criticize the dehumanization of Africans and the excuses offered for their slavery. They had to face the brutal truths of the slave trade and its lasting effects on American and African society. Benjamin gives us insight into the emergence of these slave civilizations in the New World and the Atlantic Plantation Complex. Along with the viewpoints of colonists who valued riches and power over the freedom of enslaved people, the economic factors fueling the demand 4 Benjamin, Thomas. Atlantic World: Europeans, Africans, Indians and Their Shared History, 1400-1900. Cambridge, 2009 . 5 Ibid 6 Rothman, Alison Games and Alan. Major Problems in Atlantic History. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2008 2

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for forced labor are examined 7 . This helps to give us a greater understanding of the Atlantic World's systems for enslavement and the exploitation of people for financial benefit. Ira Berlin describes in his article, “From Creole to African: Atlantic Creoles and the Origins of African-American Society in Mainland North America," that the experiences of Atlantic Creoles shaped African American society in mainland North America, or enslaved Africans who were brought to the Americas via the transatlantic slave trade and because of their situation, had a tremendous amount of exposure to the language and culture of Europe. Berlin contends that Atlantic Creoles played a crucial role in shaping African American culture in the early colonial period, bridging African and European cultures and helping to create a distinct African American identity. Using primary sources helps define the article as it supports the argument that he is making. Understanding the history of African American culture and identity offers important insights into the complex cultural exchange and hybridization processes that shaped the Atlantic world 8 . Major Takeaways and Understanding Here are my major takeaways from this week's reading. First is that the transatlantic slave trade was a crucial aspect of the Atlantic world economy and had a profound impact on the lives of millions of Africans who were forcibly taken from their homes and transported to the Americas to work on plantations. How the slave trade was intertwined with broader economic 7 Benjamin, Thomas. Atlantic World: Europeans, Africans, Indians and Their Shared History, 1400-1900. Cambridge, 2009 . 8 Berlin, Ira. "From Creole to African: Atlantic Creoles and the origins of African-American society in mainland North America." The WIlliam and Mary Quarterly , 1996: 251-288. 3

and political developments in Europe and the Americas and how enslaved Africans could resist and adapt to their circumstances proved crucial. Secondly, the interaction between Europeans and Native Americans in the early colonial period was characterized by a wide range of relationships, including cooperation, conflict, and cultural exchange. How Native American societies were able to resist and adapt to European colonization and how European colonization had a profound impact on Native American cultures and societies was also very prominent. Third, the slave trade was a brutal and dehumanizing experience for millions of Africans who were forcibly taken from their homes and transported to the Americas to work on plantations. This experience can never be taken away from the history of the Atlantic and its future moving forward. Lastly, is that a complex web of connections and interactions between Europeans, Africans, and Native Americans characterized the Atlantic world. The ways these groups interacted with each other through trade, diplomacy, warfare, and cultural exchange highlight how these interactions shaped the Atlantic world's social, economic, and political developments. Overall, the reading emphasized the complex relationships between Europeans, their captives, and the natives of the land that the slaves went to. Very enlightening. 4

Annotated Bibliography Furstenberg, Francois. "Atlantic Slavery, Atlantic Freedom: George Washington, Slavery, and Transatlantic Abolitionist Networks." The Journal of American History, vol. 82, no. 1, 1995, pp. 5-25. Annotation: Historian and scholar François Furstenberg is well-known for his knowledge of early American history, especially the colonial and revolutionary eras. After graduating from Columbia University with a bachelor's degree, he continued to Johns Hopkins University for his doctorate. His studies center on how early American politics, culture, and society interacted. The relationship between George Washington and the transatlantic abolitionist movement is examined in this article by Francois Furstenberg, who contends that Washington's experiences as a slave owner and his contacts with abolitionists in Europe influenced his opinions on slavery. To bolster his claims, Furstenberg consults a variety of original materials, such as Washington's private letters and reports from modern newspapers. The article highlights how thoughts regarding slavery and abolition spread throughout the Atlantic region and situates Washington's opinions within the larger framework of transatlantic abolitionist networks. The paper significantly contributes to the body of knowledge regarding George Washington and the history of abolitionism. It also sheds light on the nuanced interactions between freedom and slavery in the Atlantic region. Bibliography: Inikori, Joseph E. "Slavery and Atlantic Commerce, 1650-1800." The Journal of African History, vol. 37, no. 1, 1996, pp. 103-126. Annotation: Renowned historian Joseph Inikori is well-known for his studies on African economic history, emphasizing the transatlantic slave trade and how it affected African economies and 5

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communities. Nigeria was the place of his birth, although he eventually studied in the US. After receiving his Ph.D. in economic history from Northwestern University, Inikori has worked as a professor at several universities, including Harvard University and the University of Rochester. His work has significantly advanced our knowledge of the economic aspects of the transatlantic slave trade. In this article, Inikori investigates the connection between Atlantic trade and slavery between 1650 and 1800. Inikori contends that the development of the slave system was largely driven by the financial interests of European traders and plantation owners and that the growth of Atlantic commerce was intimately linked to the extension of the slave trade. The article's premise is supported by various primary sources, such as economic data, shipping records, and firsthand stories. Inikori also highlights how broader world trends influenced the development of the Atlantic economy by placing the expansion of Atlantic commerce within the larger framework of global economic history. The paper contributes significantly to the body of knowledge regarding the history of slavery in the Atlantic region. It sheds light on the financial underpinnings of the slave system. Bibliography: Stevenson, Brenda. "Introduction: Women, Slavery, and the Atlantic World." The William and Mary Quarterly, vol. 58, no. 1, 2001, pp. 3-30. Annotation: Noted historian Brenda Elaine Stevenson is an expert in gender studies, women's history, and African American history. She graduated from the University of Virginia with a bachelor's degree and was born in Virginia. Stevenson's research focuses on gender, family, and sexuality concerns as well as African American experiences, especially during the eras of slavery and Reconstruction. The William and Mary Quarterly's special issue on women and slavery in the Atlantic region is introduced by Stevenson in this piece. Stevenson emphasizes how women actively participated in the slave system and trade, acting as both agents of resistance and uprising and victims of slavery. The article examines the lives of enslaved women in the Atlantic region by drawing on various primary sources, such as slave narratives, court documents, and private letters. In addition, Stevenson situates the experiences of women who were held in slavery within the larger framework of Atlantic history, emphasizing how larger political, social, and economic forces influenced the slave system. The paper gives a useful summary of how race, gender, and slavery intersected in the Atlantic region and offers significant insights into the lives of women who were held as slaves. 6

Bibliography Benjamin, Thomas. Atlantic World: Europeans, Africans, Indians and Their Shared History, 1400-1900. Cambridge, 2009. Berlin, Ira. "From Creole to African: Atlantic Creoles and the origins of African-American society in mainland North America." The William and Mary Quarterly , 1996: 251-288. Rothman, Alison Games, and Alan. Major Problems in Atlantic History. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2008. 7

Week 4 Annotations_Migrations and Encounters

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