Final answer:
The largest destinations for African slaves during the trans-Atlantic slave trade were Brazil and the Caribbean, with Brazil alone receiving over three million enslaved people. The British and Portuguese were the most active in the slave trade, which was dominated by plantation economies needing large numbers of laborers. Enslaved populations were often sourced based on regional affiliations and specific characteristics desired by slave owners.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Destinations of African Slaves During the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade
The largest destinations for African slaves during the trans-Atlantic slave trade were primarily the European colonies with plantation systems. Initially, in the 16th and early 17th centuries, many slaves were sent to Spanish and Portuguese colonies. However, as time went on, the majority of enslaved Africans were transported to Brazil and the Caribbean. Brazil received the largest number of African slaves, with an estimated three million or more individuals, marking it as the primary destination for slaves in the New World.
The British and Portuguese slave merchants dominated the trade, accounting for seven out of every ten transatlantic slaving voyages. Furthermore, from 1650 to 1860, approximately 10 to 15 million enslaved people were taken from western Africa to the Americas, with the West Indies, Central America, and South America being significant recipients. These areas thrived on the labor of enslaved Africans in their plantation agriculture. Ultimately, the larger demand and plantation economy in Brazil and the Caribbean regions made them key destinations.
Different regions in the Americas tended to receive enslaved Africans from specific areas, with certain European owners showing preference for slaves from certain African 'nations', based on perceived characteristics. For example, many slaves in Portuguese Brazil originated from regions such as Senegambia, the Bight of Benin, Kongo, and the Bight of Biafra, while the French Caribbean colony of Saint Domingue had a high percentage of slaves from the Kongo. In areas like South Carolina, there was a large proportion of slaves from West Central Africa.