Final answer:
During the Atlantic slave trade, many slaves faced a fate of enslavement. Only a fraction of the captured Africans survived the journey to the New World, and the abolishment of the foreign slave trade gave rise to a domestic slave trade within the United States.
Step-by-step explanation:
Reflecting on the historical context of the Atlantic slave trade, many slaves faced enslavement during this period. About 16 million Africans were captured and subjected to the horrendous middle passage, with only 12 million arriving alive to the European colonies. The trade significantly impacted African communities, as a quarter of all slaves died on the voyage, and those who survived were subjected to a lifetime of servitude unless they managed to escape or were emancipated. Additionally, the abolition of the foreign slave trade in 1807 led to the rise of a thriving domestic slave trade within the United States.
The fate of many slaves during the era of the Atlantic slave trade was in stark contrast to the burgeoning ideas of liberty and equality that were spreading across America and Europe. While some slaves were able to secure their freedom or were emancipated during this period, many more continued to live under the oppressive conditions of enforced servitude.