Why did the British in North America begin to turn to African sources of slaves?

The British turned to African sources of slaves in North America for several reasons, which are rooted in economic, social, and political factors: 1. **Economic Factors:** - **Increased Demand for Labor:** As the British colonies in North America expanded, there was a growing demand for labor to work in the plantations, particularly in the production of cash crops like tobacco, rice, and indigo. - **High Mortality Rates:** The harsh conditions of the plantations, including disease, malnutrition, and overwork, led to high mortality rates among European indentured servants. This made it difficult to sustain a workforce solely through indentured labor. - **Cost-Effectiveness:** Slaves from Africa were generally cheaper to purchase than indentured servants from Europe, and they were also more likely to survive the journey across the Atlantic. 2. **Social and Cultural Factors:** - **Prevalence of Slavery in Africa:** Slavery was already a well-established practice in many African societies, and the transatlantic slave trade was a continuation of existing practices. This made it easier for African slaves to be transported to the Americas. - **Racial Prejudice:** The British, like many other European colonizers, held strong racial prejudices against people of African descent. This prejudice made it easier for them to justify the use of African slaves in the colonies. 3. **Political and Legal Factors:** - **Legislation and Trade Policies:** The British government passed various acts and policies that facilitated the transatlantic slave trade, such as the Navigation Acts, which required that goods transported between British colonies be carried on British ships. - **Colonial Competition:** The British were not the only European powers involved in the transatlantic slave trade. Competition with other European nations, such as the Portuguese, Spanish, and Dutch, led to increased efforts to secure African slaves for the North American colonies. In summary, the British turned to African sources of slaves in North America due to the economic need for a large, cheap, and durable workforce, the social and cultural acceptance of slavery, and the political and legal framework that supported the transatlantic slave trade.