Why was the slave trade so important to the british empire?

Answer 1

The short answer: money. The long answer: The slave trade was important to not just the British Empire but most civilizations up to that point in history. The slave trade allowed a powerful work force with a very minimal upkeep. It was such a financially sound investment, it is akin to hiring a worker to do a task, or buying a robot once that will do it forever, just pay for the electricity. In addition, one thing overlooked is that the slave trade itself was a huge market. It provided thousands of jobs and careers, and much like the real estate market of today was a powerful indicator of the status of the economy because it played such a pivotal role in the foundations of that economy. Brittan was not alone in this though, just innovators because they found what was thought to be an untapped resource of human labor - Africa.

Answer 2

Actually, the Slave trade was much more important for the French and Dutch than it was the British, but the importance was to have a source of cheap labor to work the plantations in the West Indies (Caribbean) (British and French) and the East Indies (Dutch)

But, the Slave trade was also important to the people in Africa who hunted THEIR OWN KIND and sold them to the slave traders. AND... many cultures practiced dealing is slaves... the indigenous people in the Caribbean... the tribes in South and Central America... and even the American Indians... they ALL dealt in SLAVES... It's just not POPULAR to vilify the indigenous people for the practice... it's much easier for Hollywood to make a movie about what the WHITE people did than TELL THE TRUTH... that the Black and Brown people were EQUALLY GUILTY of dealing IN SLAVES.

Answer 3

What Mr Taco said- the British were among the earliest and most strident in fighting slavery. In economic terms, slaves provided the labour force used to harvest sugar in the West Indies, which were sparsely populated and where this labour was missing. They were also useful in mining and labouring in Africa. But the British Empire was at its strongest after slavery was abolished, as Taco said.

Answer 4

To tell you the truth, it proved to be very UNimportant. They abolished it early in the 19th century, and what effect did it have on their economy? Next to nil. The Empire was as strong as ever throughout the 19th century, if not moreso. Slave trade provided some cash and workers in their new colonies which helped them get started, I guess, but in the end it proved to be unnecessary.

Answer 5

Importance Of Slave Trade

Answer 6

This demoralizing practice save the owners money and increased revenue.

Answer 7

to get free labor. Don't forget, it was used a lot in the Southern states, and we fought a war to get rid of it.