The trade triangle worked like this: European merchants would sail to Africa and trade for slaves. The slaves were then transported to the Americas, where they were sold to plantation owners. The plantation owners used the slaves to grow cash crops, such as sugar, tobacco, and cotton. These cash crops were then shipped to Europe, where they were sold for a profit.
The trade triangle was a very profitable business. European merchants made a lot of money by selling slaves and cash crops. Plantation owners in the Americas also made a lot of money by growing cash crops. However, the trade triangle was also very harmful to the people who were involved in it. Millions of Africans were enslaved and transported to the Americas, where they were forced to work in terrible conditions. Many Africans died during the Middle Passage, the journey from Africa to the Americas.
The trade triangle also had a negative impact on the environment. The cultivation of cash crops led to deforestation and soil erosion. The use of slaves on plantations also led to human rights abuses.
In the 19th century, the trade triangle began to decline. This was due in part to the abolition of slavery in Europe and the Americas. It was also due to the development of new technologies, such as the steam engine, which made it possible to transport goods more quickly and cheaply.
The trade triangle had a profound impact on the world. It led to the spread of European culture and institutions to the Americas and Africa. It also led to the development of new economic systems, such as capitalism. The trade triangle is a complex and controversial part of history, but it is an essential part of understanding how the modern world came to be.