Question

What led to an increase in the transatlantic slave trade in the fifteenth century?A.Europeans sought to replace the indigenous people forced to work as slaves after many were killed by diseases.B.Europeans needed trading partners because indigenous peoples would not trade with settlers in the Americas.C.Europeans wanted to quickly grow their colonial populations in order to provide better defense against attack.D.Europeans discovered new resources in the Americas that were in high demand in many African nations.

Answer 1

A. Europeans sought to replace the indigenous people forced to work as slaves after many were killed by diseases.

Explanation: Old World diseases (like smallpox) devastated native populations, creating severe labor shortages on plantations and in mines. To supply the needed labor, Europeans increasingly turned to the African slave trade.