Significance of Primary Sources: “Middle Passage”

Significance of Primary Sources: “Middle Passage”

Introduction

Primary sources are one of the most significant sources in the field of history. Primary sources play a significant role to the learners, the teachers, and even the researchers.to the learners, the primary sources play a role in exposing students in multiple perspectives on the significant issues which took place and the past and also the present(Legg & John pg. 104). They give a better interpretation of the past, including the most famous historians, ordinary citizens, any happening which made a significant impact on society in the past. The use of the primary sources helps the student to participate in the present debates while learning fully.  The paper aims to give the significant impact of the middle passage in slavery and abolitionism. The journal aims to provide details on how the primary helps in knowledge transformation by developing reasonable explanations derived from the primary sources.

The middle passage during the slave and abolitionism was a triangular stage of triangular trade where many Africans were transported and sold into slavery. The writing was done by Charles Johnson in his article. The very first passage was used in the transportation of the slaves from Africa to Europe to complete the voyage. The middle passage during slavery was considered a time between the traded Africans and America (Feelings & Tom pg. 26). The inner journey took place across the Atlantic ocean to the new world. The middle passage was simply the one leg of the used triangular trade route where the knives, guns, and ammunition were transported to.  During the intermediate passage activities, the close quarters and the intentional division of African societies by the use of ships much motivated captive Africans in forging the bonds of kinship. This was one of the leading roles played by these primary sources and the impact on the African communities.

The middle passage, when the use of human beings, especially the Africans, were subjected to slave activities.  The primary source developed and grew out of the slave activities where the Africans were sold as the slaves, thus forced to serve as raw materials. The middle passage in the triangular trade was used by the traders in selling slaves to America and Caribbean countries, who were the primary beneficiaries of the slaves. The middle passage was significantly shaped by the world slave trade, which put all Africans as the primary commodities. The suffering and the life the slaves lived during this particular period as it’s written in slavery and abolition journals help the learners understand slave experiences.  The structures built during the slave period, like the white house in America, give more interpretations of the kind of work the slaves were subjected to.

The Author of the middle passage has a specific plan in giving the significance of the trade triangle during the slave trade. The inner journey during the slave trade is one of the importance of primary sources concerning the history of the slave trade. The passage critically analyzes the routes used in the transportation of the trade commodities and the traders involved in the business. The learners use the source in understanding the primary products used in the trade, including how Africans were subjected to slavery activities because of their color.

The middle passage, as a primary historical source, contains more information concerning slavery and abolition. No business in the source since all the information is given or derived gives clear and comprehensive info concerning the establishment and the growth of the slave trade. It mentions everything needed by the learner in developing critical thinking skills while finding the information they intend to capture. By using the activities which took place in the middle passage, the students can acquire the empathy of the slave condition, thus helping them in developing essential points that may be used in the analysis of the events.

Work cited.

Legg, John R. “Saltwater Slavery: A Middle Passage from Africa to American       Diaspora.” Armstrong Undergraduate Journal of History 8.1 (2018): 94-104.

Feelings, Tom. The middle passage: White ships/black cargo. Penguin, 2018.