Even though New England colonists typically did not have many slaves, they still benefitted from the system shown by this map. Using details from this map and Unit 2, explain why this was the case, (4 points)
1) Economic interconnectedness: The New England colonies were heavily involved in trade, including the triangular trade system, which involved the exchange of goods, including slaves, between Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Even though New England colonists did not have a large number of slaves compared to the southern colonies, their participation in the system allowed them to profit from the buying and selling of enslaved individuals.
2) Indirect benefits: Although New England colonists might not have owned many slaves themselves, the products made using slave labor in other regions were often traded and consumed in New England. For example, the map shows the regions where crops like tobacco and rice were cultivated using enslaved labor. These crops would have been imported into New England for processing or consumption, contributing to the economy and wealth of the region.
3) Slave labor in industries: New England colonies had industries such as shipbuilding and fishing, which were reliant on the labor-intensive work done by enslaved individuals in other colonies. Slave labor played a crucial role in the production of materials like timber and fish that were used in New England's economy. By indirectly benefiting from slave labor in these industries, New England colonists were able to flourish economically.
4) Financial investments: New England colonists also invested in the slave trade and the plantation system in other regions. Merchants from New England were often involved in financing voyages for the trading of enslaved Africans, allowing them to profit from the slave trade. Additionally, profits made from investments in plantations in the Caribbean or southern colonies might have been brought back to New England, contributing to the region's economic growth.
Overall, even though New England colonists did not have large numbers of slaves themselves, their engagement in the slave trade, consumption of slave-produced goods, utilization of enslaved labor in industries, and financial investments in the system all contributed to their economic benefit from the institution of slavery.