Final answer:
Port cities in New England benefited from economic prosperity due to their involvement in the slave trading Triangular Trade, despite having few slaves work in the region. Their economic growth was facilitated through the trade infrastructure and business opportunities created by the slave trade.
Step-by-step explanation:
Port cities in New England benefited from slave trading primarily through economic prosperity from trade. Although few slaves were brought to New England to work, the region was deeply involved in the Triangular Trade, which included the exchange of slaves for goods between Africa, the Americas, and Europe.
The construction of major ports and the building of ships not only facilitated the transport of slaves but also allowed for the import and export of goods, such as luxury items, textiles, armament, and liquor. New England's involvement in the slave trade, therefore, contributed significantly to its economic growth, as it provided opportunities for local industries such as shipbuilding, and the profits generated from trade added to the region's wealth.
While New England did utilize some enslaved labor in various skilled occupations, the region's main economic benefit came from engaging in trade activities that were indirectly related to slavery. The infrastructure that developed to support this trade - the ports, ships, and associated businesses - helped grow the economies of New England port cities without the need for a large enslaved population within those cities themselves.