1. Scale: Slavery in West Africa was mostly on a smaller scale compared to the massive slave trade and plantations in the Americas.
2. Purpose: In West Africa, slaves were primarily used for domestic work, agriculture, and trade within the region. In contrast, slavery in the Americas was driven by large-scale exploitation for profit, with slaves mainly used as forced labor in plantations.
3. Integration: In some West African societies, slaves could be integrated into the master's family or community and could even gain positions of responsibility and social mobility. In contrast, slavery in the Americas often involved dehumanizing treatment and racial discrimination.
4. Legal Framework: Slavery in West Africa was often regulated by cultural norms and customs, with some legal protections and rights for slaves. In the Americas, slavery was formalized through laws that stripped enslaved individuals of their basic rights and humanity.
5. Manumission: In certain West African societies, there were established practices for enslaved individuals to gain freedom or manumission. In contrast, manumission in the Americas was limited and often difficult to achieve.
6. Resistance: Enslaved individuals in both West Africa and the Americas resisted their exploitation in various ways, including escape attempts, revolts, and cultural and religious expressions of resistance. However, the forms and effectiveness of resistance differed due to the specific circumstances and power dynamics in each region.
It's important to note that slavery existed in various forms across different regions and time periods, and these generalizations may not apply to all cases.