1791–1867: The Cuban slave trade reached unprecedented levels in the nineteenth century as the island became the world’s leading sugar producer following the…

1791–1867: The Cuban slave trade reached unprecedented levels in the nineteenth century as the island became the world’s leading sugar producer following the collapse of the industry in Saint-Domingue. During this “second slavery” era, West Central Africa remained the largest supplier, but significant numbers of captives were also drawn from the Bight of Benin and Southeast Africa. Despite international treaties banning the traffic, Havana-based merchants successfully organized a massive illegal trade that continued until the late 1860s. This late-stage traffic fundamentally transformed the demographics of Cuba, making it one of the last major slave societies in the Americas.