How did the Middle Passage begin?

Question

- The Middle Passage began as a result of European countries competing with each other for resources.
- The Middle Passage began as demand to transport goods across the Atlantic grew.
- The Middle Passage began as demand for enslaved labor grew in the Americas in order to cut labor costs.
- The Middle Passage began when creating colonies became a point of national pride.

Answer 1

The Middle Passage began as demand for enslaved labor grew in the Americas in order to cut labor costs. This demand was fueled by the need for cheap labor on plantations and in other industries, as well as the desire to exploit the resources of the New World. European countries competed with each other for control of colonies and resources, and the transportation of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic became a lucrative trade that helped fuel the growth of European economies.