In Connection #1, we see how Mercantilism and Trans-Atlantic Trade are linked, with the Middle Passage being very important to this relationship. Mercantilism was an economic system that encouraged countries to expand their colonies and trade, focusing on gaining wealth by selling more than they bought. This approach led to the Trans-Atlantic Trade, which involved trading goods, raw materials, and enslaved people between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
The Middle Passage refers to the awful journey that enslaved Africans had to make when being transported to the Americas. This journey was a crucial part of the Triangular Trade system because there was a strong need for labor to grow cash crops like sugar and tobacco in the colonies. The terrible conditions of the Middle Passage show the human suffering caused by this economic system, as many enslaved people endured horrible treatment just to make profits for others.