In 1526, a Portuguese ship completed the first transatlantic slave voyage by carrying slaves from Africa to the Americas. West African society was one of the centers of civilization in the centuries leading up to the Atlantic slave trade. The vibrant economy and culture in West African society were greatly affected by the slave trade. The Atlantic slave trade was not abolished by the United States until 1809. This informational text is for grade 9 students. As you read, take notes on how slavery was different in Africa than in the United States. West African Society at the Point of European Contact by USHistory.org is licensed under CC BY 4.0.
