Imagine you investigated the role plantations had on the increase of the African slave trade. Which of the following statements would provide the best findings of your investigation

Question

The demand for skilled labor to harvest cash crops increased the African slave trade
The demand to harvest cash crops at a cheap labor price increased the African slave trade
The demand to cultivate plantation land decreased so the African slave trade increased to reduce labor costs
The demand for less-intensive labor to harvest cash crops increased the African slave trade

Answer 1

The best finding from your investigation would be:

"The demand to harvest cash crops at a cheap labor price increased the African slave trade."

This statement captures the essence of how plantations, which were focused on producing cash crops such as sugar, tobacco, and cotton, drove the demand for cheap labor, leading to an increase in the African slave trade. It emphasizes the economic motivation behind the trade, highlighting the plantations' reliance on enslaved labor to maximize profits from these lucrative crops.