SLAVE LABOR IN LATIN AMERICA

Kimberly Bentley

Western New Mexico University

June 2011

AGENDA

Defining slave labor

Why was it used?

Where was it used?

Slave working and living conditions

Abolition

DEFINING SLAVE LABOR

Slave labor is forced migration where people are bought and

traded for into servitude with little or no pay.

The institution of slavery had a huge impact on the

economical development of Latin American countries.

Slaves were traded for and bought by the Portuguese from the

African coast.

WHY WAS SLAVE LAB OR USED IN LATIN AMERICA?

To increase profits by mine and agricultural owners.

By receiving free or cheap labor, owners could

maximize their profits.

WHERE WAS IT USED?

Slavery was a common practice all over the world. In fact, Africans

sold their own slaves to foreign traders at markets along the coast.

Brazil and Cuba had more slaves than any other country in Latin

America.

Cuba had more slaves than the estimated 523,000 in the United

States and Brazil had over 3.5 million slaves working.

WORKING AND LIVING CONDITIONS

15 to 20 percent of slaves did not survive the boat ride from Africa.

Many perished to disease from climate changes, while others

succumbed to industrial accidents and the “rate of suicide in this

social category is well above average” (Pearson)

Many died of acute dysentery, pleurisy, pneumonia and kidney

failure.

ABOLITION

Slavery was outlawed during the Independence Wars from 1810 to

1822, however many colonies did not obey this law.

The Bourbon and Pombaline Reforms went a long way in changing

public opinion and starting the trend towards abolition.

The Paraguayan War ended slavery in Brazil in 1888 when the

government declared all slaves free in order to stock their army

for combat.

CONCLUSION

The institution of slavery had dramatic impacts on the economical

development of the countries in Latin America. Without slave labor, the

economical advancements that took place may have been impossible.

Slave labor was cheap or free and allowed mine and land owners to

maximize profits. Slaves had to endure terrible working and living

conditions where little or no pay was offered and freedom was not

possible. Although slavery was deemed illegal during the Independence

Wars, the last slave ship arrived in Brazil in 1867. Slavery was finally

abolished in Brazil (the last to end the practice) in 1888 due the

Paraguayan War.