The Era Of Legitimate Commerce Summary
In the section, “The Era of Legitimate Commerce, 1800-1870” of Bill Freund’s book, “The Making of Contemporary Africa, he explores the concept of “Legitimate Commerce” and the resulting impact this had on Africa after the abolition of the Atlantic slave trade. Freund utilizes “Legitimate Commerce” to frame both European and African developments relating to economic and social changes as well as the development of new states in Africa. These changes are outlined in this chapter as they relate to the strengthening interrelationships between European and African markets.
“Legitimate Commerce” is described as a concept intended to benefit all European parties supporting the abolition of the Atlantic slave trade (Freund 53). “Legitimate Commerce” was a slogan supported by a good deal of Europeans who had affairs in African exploration, humanitarian efforts, and trade (Freund 53). This manner of commerce could from a European perspective be viewed as a kind of ‘ethical’ commerce that was simultaneously viewed as benefiting European markets. This shift was largely caused by the Industrial Revolution in Europe and the shift of focus from plantations to factories, and the increase in European manufactured goods that could expand into African markets. …show more content…
Europeans looked toward the markets in Africa as being untapped, and sought to expand their exports of manufactured goods into Africa while importing raw materials from the continent. Britain increased trade with West Africa and the development of the slave trade from within the continent can be directly tied to the increased demand for the gathering of raw materials from Africa (Freund 54). This slave trade created a new manner of trader who worked as an intermediary between European traders and African slaveholders, such as could be found in Sierra
“Legitimate Commerce” is described as a concept intended to benefit all European parties supporting the abolition of the Atlantic slave trade (Freund 53). “Legitimate Commerce” was a slogan supported by a good deal of Europeans who had affairs in African exploration, humanitarian efforts, and trade (Freund 53). This manner of commerce could from a European perspective be viewed as a kind of ‘ethical’ commerce that was simultaneously viewed as benefiting European markets. This shift was largely caused by the Industrial Revolution in Europe and the shift of focus from plantations to factories, and the increase in European manufactured goods that could expand into African markets. …show more content…
Europeans looked toward the markets in Africa as being untapped, and sought to expand their exports of manufactured goods into Africa while importing raw materials from the continent. Britain increased trade with West Africa and the development of the slave trade from within the continent can be directly tied to the increased demand for the gathering of raw materials from Africa (Freund 54). This slave trade created a new manner of trader who worked as an intermediary between European traders and African slaveholders, such as could be found in Sierra