Question

Which of the following explains why the slavery industry was created in the colonies?
To repopulate cities in Europe
To resolve a shortage of workers
To provide work for immigrant families
To increase the productivity of shipping

Answer 1

none of these options are that satisfactory, really. pre- industrialisation, human labour was king. and slavery = free labour. and parking African slaves in the West Indies allowed the British Empire to make even more money, pretty much for free.

to say, for instance, that it resolved a shortage of workers, really is to trivialise it.

Answer 2

B