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A "triangular trade" existed from 1640-1720.  The three sides of the "triangle" were trade routes from West Africa to the New World (the West Indies or the colonies), from there to Europe (England or continental Europe), and from there the boats traveled back to West Africa to begin again.  The harshest part of this route was the taking of slaves, bound in chains from West Africa to the New World.  After the slaves disembarked in the New World, workers would load goods onto the ships (such as raw molasses if the West Indies, or tobacco if Virginia) for transport to and sale in Europe.

A "triangular trade" existed from 1640-1720.  The three sides of the "triangle" were trade routes from West Africa to the New World (the West Indies or the colonies), from there to Europe (England or continental Europe), and from there the boats traveled back to West Africa to begin again.  The harshest part of this route was the taking of slaves, bound in chains from West Africa to the New World.  After the slaves disembarked in the New World, workers would load goods onto the ships (such as raw molasses if the West Indies, or tobacco if Virginia) for transport to and sale in Europe.

[[File:Triangular trade.jpg|250px|right|thumb|New England colonies' version of triangular trade]]

[[File:Triangular trade.jpg|250px|right|thumb|New England colonies' version of triangular trade]]

The Massachusetts and Rhode Island colonies profited immensely from the slave trade through their own version of "triangular trade."  They sent surplus goods like flour and addictive rum (alcohol) to Africa to purchase slaves, but rather than the slaves being shipped back to the New England colonies where there were opponents of slavery, the slaves were instead shipped to the West Indies to be sold at the highest price possible.  After disembarking and selling the slaves, the captains of the ships then took as their cargo molasses, sugar, and lots money, which were then transported back to Massachusetts and Rhode Island at the profit of the businessmen running the slave trade.  From there the ships were loaded up again with cheap goods for another trip across the Atlantic to North Africa (the African Gold Coast) to buy more slaves and put them on the ships.  Over a 200-year period, opposition to this slave trade grew until it was prohibited in the 1800s.

The Massachusetts and Rhode Island colonies profited immensely from the slave trade through their own version of "triangular trade."  They sent surplus goods like flour and addictive rum (alcohol) to Africa to purchase slaves, but rather than the slaves being shipped back to the New England colonies where there were opponents of slavery, the slaves were instead shipped to the West Indies to be sold at the highest price possible.  After disembarking and selling the slaves, the captains of the ships then took as their cargo raw sugar, molasses (refined sugar), and lots money, which were then transported back to Massachusetts and Rhode Island at the profit of the businessmen running the slave trade.  From there the ships were loaded up again with cheap goods for another trip across the Atlantic to North Africa (the African Gold Coast) to buy more slaves and put them on the ships.  Over a 200-year period, opposition to this slave trade grew until it was prohibited in the 1800s.

Brown University in Rhode Island was founded in 1764 and named after an abolitionist (someone who wanted slavery abolished), Nicholas Brown, Jr., but his family profited from the slave trade.

Brown University in Rhode Island was founded in 1764 and named after an abolitionist (someone who wanted slavery abolished), Nicholas Brown, Jr., but his family profited from the slave trade.