even though new england colonists typically did not have many slaves, they still benefited from the system shown by this map. using details from this map and unit 2, explain why this was the case.(4 points)
1) Firstly, the map shows that there was a significant slave population in the Southern colonies, particularly in Virginia, South Carolina, and Georgia. Even though the New England colonists did not have as many slaves, they were still part of the larger British colonial system that heavily relied on slave labor. The Southern colonies produced cash crops such as tobacco, rice, and indigo, which were exported to England, creating economic prosperity for the entire colonial system. New England merchants played a crucial role in this trade network by financing and providing ships for the transportation of these goods.
2) Secondly, the map also indicates the triangular trade route, which connected the British colonies with Africa and the West Indies. New England ships were actively involved in this trade, carrying goods such as rum, textiles, and guns to Africa, where they were exchanged for enslaved people. These enslaved Africans were then transported to the West Indies, where they were traded for valuable commodities like sugar, molasses, and tobacco. New England merchants profited from this extensive trade network, even if they did not directly own the slaves themselves.
3) Additionally, the economic prosperity generated by slave labor in the Southern colonies had a ripple effect on the entire colonial economy. The demand for goods produced by slaves, such as tobacco, created a market that benefited merchants, traders, and farmers across all colonies. New England colonists were no exception to this, as they could profit from selling goods and supplies to the Southern colonies. Moreover, the proceeds from this trade were reinvested in various industries, including shipbuilding, banking, and manufacturing, which contributed to the overall economic growth of the colonies.
4) Lastly, New England colonies also indirectly benefited from the system of slavery through the transatlantic slave trade. The enslaved Africans brought to the British colonies were not only destined for the Southern plantations but were also distributed throughout the entire colonial region. This meant that even though New England did not have as many slaves, some enslaved people were still present in the region, working as domestic servants, farm laborers, or in various other occupations. Their labor contributed to the economic development of New England, whether through household production or as workers in the expanding industries.
Overall, while New England colonists did not have a large enslaved population, they were not exempt from benefiting from the system of slavery. The slave labor in the Southern colonies, the triangular trade route, the interconnected colonial economy, and the presence of enslaved people in New England all contributed to the economic prosperity and growth experienced by the region.