Question

What was the leading cause of death of enslaved people during the Middle Passage?

starvation

disease

violence

drowning

Answer 1

The leading cause of death of enslaved people during the Middle Passage was disease. The cramped and unsanitary conditions on slave ships, combined with the stress of capture and transport, led to the rapid spread of infectious diseases such as dysentery, smallpox, and measles, resulting in a high mortality rate among those being transported. While starvation, violence, and drowning also contributed to fatalities, disease was the most significant factor.