The acceleration of the transport of slaves in the second half of the 17th century can primarily be attributed to the activities of the Royal African Company. Established in 1660, the Royal African Company was granted a monopoly by the English government over the slave trade to the colonies in the Americas. This company played a significant role in organizing and facilitating the trade by increasing the supply of enslaved Africans to labor-intensive plantation economies, particularly in the Caribbean and the southern colonies of North America.
The Triangle Trade also contributed to the acceleration of the slave trade by establishing a systematic route where European goods were exchanged for African slaves, who were then transported to the Americas, and American commodities (like sugar, tobacco, and cotton) were sent back to Europe. This interconnected trade network further fueled the demand for enslaved labor and contributed to increased slave shipments.
While the Middle Passage refers to the horrific journey enslaved Africans endured across the Atlantic Ocean, it was the expansions of trade mechanisms and companies like the Royal African Company that effectively led to the accelerated transport of slaves during that period. The D.C. Slave Trade does not directly relate to this historical context, as it is more focused on a specific geographical area.