1501-1867: The transatlantic slave trade persisted for over 360 years and resulted in the forced deportation of an estimated 12.5 million Africans.

1501-1867: The transatlantic slave trade persisted for over 360 years and resulted in the forced deportation of an estimated 12.5 million Africans. This massive oceanic migration ranks as one of the greatest crimes against humanity in history, driven primarily by the greed of European colonizers. The trade provided the cheapest possible labor for the production of luxury goods like sugar, rum, tobacco, and cotton. This labor force became indispensable in creating the prosperous Americas that eventually attracted millions of voluntary European immigrants.