Which of the following was the most important reason for the massive growth of the African slave trade in the sixteenth century?
A) the need to supply the mines of Peru with an abundant labor force
B) the desire to develop the tobacco plantations of the New World
C) intense labor needs created by the development of sugar growing in the New World
D) the enormous growth in the African birth rate
E) the European ability to obtain slaves in many West African areas

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The intense labor needs created by the development of sugar growing in the New World led to the massive growth of the African slave trade in the sixteenth century. Sugar plantations required a large workforce to cultivate and process the crop, and the profit margins were so high that plantation owners were willing to pay high prices for slaves. African slaves were seen as the most ideal labor source because they were resistant to European diseases and were more familiar with tropical agriculture than European indentured servants.

Which of the Following Was the Most Important Reason for the Massive