The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and Legitimate Trade History JSS 3 First Term Lesson Notes 9

Lesson Plan: Early European Contact with Nigeria: The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and Legitimate Trade

Subject: History
Class: JSS 3
Term: First Term
Week: 9
Age: 13–14 years
Topic: Early European Contact with Nigeria
Sub-topic: The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and Legitimate Trade
Duration: 40 minutes

Behavioral Objectives

At the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Describe the nature and organization of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.
2. Identify key European explorers involved in the slave trade in Nigeria.
3. Explain the routes taken for the Trans-Atlantic slave trade from Nigeria.
4. Analyze the impact of the Atlantic slave trade on Nigeria and its people.
5. Discuss the abolition of the Atlantic slave trade and its implications.
6. Understand the concept of legitimate trade and its significance in the Nigerian economy, focusing on palm oil.

Keywords

• Trans-Atlantic slave trade
• Legitimate trade
• Palm oil
• Explorers
• Abolition

Set Induction

The teacher will ask: “What do you think happened to a society when many of its members were taken away for trade?” This question will encourage students to think about the broader effects of the slave trade.

Entry Behavior

Students have learned about early European exploration and its motivations, providing context for understanding the subsequent interactions with Nigeria.

Learning Resources and Materials

• Maps showing the routes of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.
• Visual aids depicting the conditions on slave ships.
• Textbooks covering the Trans-Atlantic slave trade and legitimate trade.

Building Background / Connection to Prior Knowledge

Students have studied the history of trade in West Africa, setting the stage for understanding the specific impacts of the slave trade on Nigerian society.

Embedded Core Skills

• Critical thinking
• Communication
• Research

Reference Books

• Lagos State Scheme of Work
• “A History of Nigeria” by Toyin Falola
• JSS 3 History Textbook

Instructional Materials

• Maps of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade routes.
• Charts showing the volume of palm oil trade during the legitimate trade era.

Content

A. The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade

1. Nature and Organization
   • The Trans-Atlantic slave trade was a brutal system where millions of Africans were forcibly taken to the Americas as slaves.
   • Organized by European traders, it involved capturing, transporting, and selling enslaved Africans.
2. European Explorers in Nigeria
   • Notable explorers included the Portuguese, British, and Dutch who were instrumental in establishing trade routes.
   • These explorers documented their journeys and interactions with local communities.
3. Trade Routes
   • The primary routes taken for the slave trade were through the Atlantic Ocean, from Lagos to Calabar and other coastal cities.
   • Enslaved individuals were transported in overcrowded ships under horrendous conditions, often resulting in high mortality rates.
4. Impact of the Atlantic Slave Trade
   • Social disintegration: Families and communities were torn apart.
   • Economic consequences: Loss of labor force affected agricultural production.
   • Cultural impact: Disruption of local traditions and cultures as many were lost during the trade.
5. Abolition of the Atlantic Slave Trade
   • The abolition movement gained momentum in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
   • In Britain, the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act was passed in 1807, making the trade illegal.
   • This led to significant changes in Nigeria’s economy and social structure.

B. The Legitimate Trade

1. Transition to Legitimate Trade
   • Following the abolition of the slave trade, economies shifted towards legitimate trade.
   • European traders began to focus on commodities like palm oil, which was in high demand for soap and candle production in Europe.
2. Trade in Palm Oil
   • The palm oil trade received a significant boost, becoming one of the main exports from Nigeria.
   • This trade contributed to the economic development of coastal regions and fostered new trading relationships.

Evaluation

1. The Trans-Atlantic slave trade was primarily organized by __________.
   a) African kings
   b) European traders
   c) American farmers
   d) Asian merchants
2. The main route of the slave trade from Nigeria was through the __________.
   a) Mediterranean Sea
   b) Atlantic Ocean
   c) Indian Ocean
   d) Pacific Ocean
3. Enslaved Africans were taken from places like __________.
   a) Lagos
   b) Cairo
   c) Lisbon
   d) Berlin
4. The abolition of the slave trade was officially declared in __________.
   a) 1800
   b) 1807
   c) 1815
   d) 1825
5. Palm oil became a significant export for Nigeria during the __________ trade.
   a) Slave
   b) Agricultural
   c) Legitimate
   d) Industrial
6. The conditions on slave ships were often __________.
   a) Comfortable
   b) Dangerous
   c) Luxurious
   d) Clean
7. One impact of the Atlantic slave trade was the __________ of families.
   a) Unification
   b) Disintegration
   c) Prosperity
   d) Strengthening
8. The main European countries involved in the slave trade included __________.
   a) Spain and Italy
   b) Portugal and Britain
   c) France and Russia
   d) Greece and Turkey
9. The rise in palm oil trade helped boost the __________ of Nigeria’s coastal regions.
   a) Population
   b) Economy
   c) Government
   d) Culture
10. The term used to describe the transition from slave trade to new forms of trade is __________.
    a) Economic revolution
    b) Legitimate trade
    c) Agricultural expansion
    d) Colonial transition

Class Activity Discussion

1. What was the Trans-Atlantic slave trade?
   It was a brutal system where millions of Africans were taken to the Americas as slaves.
2. Who organized the Trans-Atlantic slave trade?
   It was organized by European traders, primarily from Portugal and Britain.
3. What routes were used for the slave trade?
   The main routes were through the Atlantic Ocean, from Lagos to Calabar.
4. What were the conditions like on slave ships?
   Conditions were often overcrowded and dangerous, leading to high mortality rates.
5. What impact did the slave trade have on Nigerian society?
   It led to social disintegration, loss of labor, and disruption of cultural practices.
6. When was the Atlantic slave trade abolished?
   It was officially abolished in Britain in 1807.
7. What did Nigeria trade after the abolition of the slave trade?
   Nigeria shifted towards legitimate trade, particularly in palm oil.
8. Why was palm oil significant in legitimate trade?
   Palm oil was in high demand in Europe for products like soap and candles.
9. How did the abolition of the slave trade affect Nigeria?
   It led to significant changes in the economy and social structure of Nigeria.
10. What was the impact of legitimate trade on Nigeria?
    It fostered economic development in coastal regions and established new trading relationships.

Presentation

1. Step 1: Review the previous lesson on early European contact.
2. Step 2: Discuss the nature and organization of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade and its routes.
3. Step 3: Analyze the transition to legitimate trade and the importance of palm oil.

Teacher’s Activities

• Use maps and charts to illustrate trade routes and the impact of the slave trade.
• Facilitate discussions on the moral implications of the slave trade and its legacy.

Learners’ Activities

• Work in groups to create a timeline of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade and the abolition movement.
• Present their findings on the effects of legitimate trade on the Nigerian economy.

Assessment

• Identify one reason why the Trans-Atlantic slave trade was considered illegitimate.
• Discuss the significance of palm oil in the legitimate trade era.

Evaluation Questions

1. What was the nature of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade?
2. Which European countries were primarily involved in the slave trade?
3. Describe the conditions on slave ships during the trade.
4. What was one major impact of the slave trade on Nigeria?
5. When was the abolition of the slave trade enacted?
6. What commodities became significant in the legitimate trade after the abolition?
7. Why was palm oil important to the Nigerian economy?
8. How did the slave trade affect families in Nigeria?
9. Name one explorer associated with the early European contact in Nigeria.
10. What was the transition from slave trade to legitimate trade called?

Conclusion

The teacher will summarize the key points about the Trans-Atlantic slave trade and legitimate trade, emphasizing their impact on Nigeria and the shifts in trade practices following the abolition.