Why Did Europeans Enslave Africans?

The video explores the history of slavery in the Americas, focusing on why Europeans turned to African slaves. It discusses the motivations behind European colonization, the initial reliance on native labor, and the eventual shift to African slaves due to economic incentives. The video also examines the development of chattel slavery and the racial justifications that emerged to support it.

How did the introduction of new diseases impact the enslavement of Native Americans?

What role did the proximity of West Africa to seaports play in the slave trade?

What justifications were used to rationalize the enslavement of Africans?