How Did The Transatlantic Slave Trade Affect Society

The transatlantic slave trade is arguably one the most dreadful criminal acts against mankind that had extended over the course of about four centuries. Where about twelve and a half million African individuals were extracted from their homes to be blindly guided through the road of no return. Men, women, and children were forcibly dragged to the Americas and the Caribbean against their own will, which was achieved through the cooperation of African elites as well as European merchants. African elites and European merchants became tremendously wealthy at the expense of the freedom of others who unfortunately fell into the hands of the slave traders. The emergence of the transatlantic slave trade had coerced the societies of Africa to be intertwined with slavery, which prompted distinct effects on different classes of Africans. The effects of the transatlantic slave trade on Africans were characterized by the cruel treatment …show more content…
To start with, the fact that approximately twelve and a half million slaves left after during the transatlantic slave trade is a massive number. In West Africa alone, it is estimated that from the year of 1700 to 1850, the population had declined by two million individuals (M’Baye, 618.) Losing such a substantial number of members is detrimental to African societies, as people are of great value to them. African societies value their members because they need them to be a productive and sustaining community. In addition to that, the members of society are what constitute wealth and security. Moreover, the transatlantic slave trade had caused social inequality to arise as it generated wealth for some and penury for others. Specifically, slave traders and those associated with them, were the ones to become wealthy off of slave trading. But as for those who were victims of the slave raids, it was difficult for them to financially prosper and