Reasons for decline from being the largest slave trading port and Liverpool’s rise
There were many coexisting reasons for Bristol’s decline to Liverpool’s gain as a slaving port. Despite having multiple reasons for being a successful slaving port, Bristol was unable to maintain its lead as the largest slave trading port as Liverpool began to emerge and grow at an unprecedented rate which was incapable of being overtaken. Bristol’s decline was as a result of ever-changing technologies and not being able to keep up and the larger impact of war on Bristol than other areas.
One reasons for the decline of the Bristolian slave trade was the constant changing of the size of ships as the slave trade became more prevalent to overall trade. The docks …show more content…
This allowed for Liverpool to slip in and slowly began to take hold of the title. During times of war, the amount of slave trading fell drastically which resulted in the demise of the trading of slaves and dwindled finances in which to support the trade in favour of supporting war, another wealthy enterprise. The lack of trading in regard to Bristol also made the whole system become more stagnate as so much of the city’s industry relied so heavily on the products being transferred across the Atlantic. During this time “war did seriously inhibit slave trading’s profitability...” and “should be pointed out that England was engaged in wars...for some 75 years of the 157 years between 1650-1807.” War had a large impact on the slave trade as it not only disrupted trading and was an expensive endeavour, but because Bristol was as reliant on the slave trade as industry had more of an impact than other areas. Many of the wars which involved with Britain were with France so there was a constant fear of “marauding French privateers” due to its location which previously had been an …show more content…
The location of Bristol was well suited to the trade route of what was later known as the triangular trade to Africa but also for vessels from the Americas to enter Britain given it south-western location. Bristol had many strong historical ties with parts of the Americas including the West Indies and Virginia which were maintained and only made stronger over time. Both the location of the port city and its connections with parts of the Americas and Africa which suggested the likelihood for success. The catalyst which can be attributed to Bristol’s surprising rise to become the largest slave trading port in England was the end of the monopoly set up by the Royal African Company which allowed other ports besides London to become involved in the “Guinea trade.” Around the same time, there was a need for a higher amount of slave labour plantation crops in a massive way in order to meet European demand for luxury goods like tobacco or sugar. Following this, Bristol began to thrive and grow at a rapid pace because of the surrounding industries which were reliant on goods from across the Atlantic, the main product being sugar. The unmanufactured sugar was sent from the West Indies, which many have called the backbone of Bristol trade during to the many sugar refineries in order to meet the European demand. The previous
There were many coexisting reasons for Bristol’s decline to Liverpool’s gain as a slaving port. Despite having multiple reasons for being a successful slaving port, Bristol was unable to maintain its lead as the largest slave trading port as Liverpool began to emerge and grow at an unprecedented rate which was incapable of being overtaken. Bristol’s decline was as a result of ever-changing technologies and not being able to keep up and the larger impact of war on Bristol than other areas.
One reasons for the decline of the Bristolian slave trade was the constant changing of the size of ships as the slave trade became more prevalent to overall trade. The docks …show more content…
This allowed for Liverpool to slip in and slowly began to take hold of the title. During times of war, the amount of slave trading fell drastically which resulted in the demise of the trading of slaves and dwindled finances in which to support the trade in favour of supporting war, another wealthy enterprise. The lack of trading in regard to Bristol also made the whole system become more stagnate as so much of the city’s industry relied so heavily on the products being transferred across the Atlantic. During this time “war did seriously inhibit slave trading’s profitability...” and “should be pointed out that England was engaged in wars...for some 75 years of the 157 years between 1650-1807.” War had a large impact on the slave trade as it not only disrupted trading and was an expensive endeavour, but because Bristol was as reliant on the slave trade as industry had more of an impact than other areas. Many of the wars which involved with Britain were with France so there was a constant fear of “marauding French privateers” due to its location which previously had been an …show more content…
The location of Bristol was well suited to the trade route of what was later known as the triangular trade to Africa but also for vessels from the Americas to enter Britain given it south-western location. Bristol had many strong historical ties with parts of the Americas including the West Indies and Virginia which were maintained and only made stronger over time. Both the location of the port city and its connections with parts of the Americas and Africa which suggested the likelihood for success. The catalyst which can be attributed to Bristol’s surprising rise to become the largest slave trading port in England was the end of the monopoly set up by the Royal African Company which allowed other ports besides London to become involved in the “Guinea trade.” Around the same time, there was a need for a higher amount of slave labour plantation crops in a massive way in order to meet European demand for luxury goods like tobacco or sugar. Following this, Bristol began to thrive and grow at a rapid pace because of the surrounding industries which were reliant on goods from across the Atlantic, the main product being sugar. The unmanufactured sugar was sent from the West Indies, which many have called the backbone of Bristol trade during to the many sugar refineries in order to meet the European demand. The previous