And, yes, I'm a couple of days late on this one, why? Who knew? This is another one of those stories that would never be covered by our media because most Americans just aren't too terribly interested in anything that doesn't happen in the United States. But...when I found out, I decided to do some research on slave trade in France and I was surprised by what I discovered.
Here's a bit of French history
Slave voyages: France 4,200 British North America/United States: 1,500Slaves transported: France 1,250,000 British North America/United States: 300,000
Slaves delivered to: French West Indies: 1,600,000 British North America/United States: 500,000
In the history of Atlantic slave trade, the French enslaved four times as many Africans as did Americans, and treated them far more brutally. Conditions on the French sugar plantations were harsh. During the eight month sugar harvest, slaves worked continuously around the clock. Accidents caused by their primitive machinery and the long hours made a steady flow of thousands of slaves per year a necessity.
Nantes (6th largest city in France) was the slave trade capital of France. Between 1713-1775 nearly 800 slave vessels sailed from Nantes (carrying over 55,000 slaves).
Chateau des duc de Bretagne, Nantes France
Slavery was banned in France in 1794 but was not legally abolished until 1830 and did not truly end until some time between 1850-1870. The Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 freed slaves in the United States and13th amendment abolished slavery in US in 1865.France Today
The French Parliament passed the Taubira Act, on May 10, 2001, recognizing the slave trade as a "crime against humanity". With its historic passage, France became the first major western country to adopt such legislation. France is launching an appeal for other European countries to do the same.
I'm Just Sayin
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