The Atlantic slave trade profoundly shaped American history, with impacts still felt today. Slavery in America began in 1619 when the first enslaved Africans arrived in Virginia, initiating centuries of exploitation and injustice. Key events include the Declaration of Independence in 1776, the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, and the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s-60s. Despite progress, the legacy of slavery continues to influence racial dynamics in modern America.
• The transatlantic slave trade involved a triangular exchange between Europe, Africa, and the Americas
• An estimated 12 million Africans were forcibly transported, with 2 million dying during the brutal "Middle Passage"
• Slavery was justified through racist ideologies and economic motivations
• The Civil War, Emancipation Proclamation, and 13th Amendment officially ended slavery, but racial oppression persisted
• The Civil Rights Movement fought segregation and discrimination, achieving legal victories but facing ongoing challenges
• Election of Barack Obama as first African American president in 2008 represented progress, but racial inequalities remain