History The Triangular Trade Questions
European merchants and traders played a significant role in the Triangular Trade. They were responsible for organizing and financing the trade routes, as well as establishing trading posts and colonies in Africa, the Americas, and Europe. European merchants would typically sail from Europe to Africa, where they would exchange goods such as textiles, firearms, and alcohol for enslaved Africans. These enslaved individuals were then transported to the Americas, where they were sold to plantation owners and used as laborers in the production of cash crops such as sugar, tobacco, and cotton. The profits from the sale of these crops were then used to purchase raw materials, such as sugar, tobacco, and cotton, which were transported back to Europe. European merchants would then sell these goods in Europe, completing the triangular trade cycle. Overall, European merchants and traders played a central role in the organization, financing, and exploitation of the Triangular Trade system.