- Slavery primarily involved indigenous people
- Many Caribbean indigenous peoples were enslaved or killed by colonizers
- Spanish used encomienda system with indigenous peoples in the Americas
- Portuguese used Africans as slaves in Brazil
17th Century
- Slave trade grows due to increased demand for sugar, tobacco, and cotton in Europe
- Majority of slaves were enslaved Africans with some indentured servants
- Slavery in British America was not formally institutionalized until late 17th century
18th Century
- Rise of industrialization and cash crop agriculture in Americas
- Increased demand for slave labor, rise in slave trade, especially in British American colonies
- Slave Codes created in 18th century defined legal standing of slaves in Britain’s colonies
- American Revolution began a long, slow process of eventual emancipation of slaves
19th Century
- British slave trade abolished in 1807, but not enforced until 1860s
- American slave trade banned by law beginning 1808, but illegal trade continued
- British colonies abolished slavery in 1834
- Abolitionist movement gained strength in the U.S. but was limited in influence
- Southern U.S. states depended heavily on slave-based cotton and sugar industry
- American Civil War (1861-1865) resulted in the abolition of slavery in the United States