Most likely they were naked, in the conditions below deck clothes would soon become soiled and unwearable.
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Slaves on slave ships were typically given minimal clothing such as loincloths or simple garments. The conditions on these ships were often overcrowded, unsanitary, and lacked proper provisions, so clothing was basic and inadequate.
The size of the ship, the conditions for transporting slaves, the regulations in place, and the profits that could be gained all influenced how many slaves could be carried on a slave ship. Factors such as the duration of the voyage, the mortality rate, and the space required for provisions also played a role in determining the number of slaves that could be transported.
The lower part of a slave ship where slaves were kept was called the "hold." It was a dark and overcrowded space where slaves were shackled together and forced to stay during the journey across the Atlantic Ocean.
The trial of the slave ship Zong centered around an insurance claim for slaves who were thrown overboard during the voyage. The case brought attention to the horrors of the transatlantic slave trade and raised questions about the treatment of slaves as property under British law. The court ruled in favor of the ship owners, setting a precedent that deemed the slaves as property and not human beings with rights.
Slaves on a slave ship were usually packed tightly together, with very limited space. Conditions were crowded, unsanitary, and oppressive. Slaves were often chained and had to endure long journeys in extremely harsh and inhumane conditions.
The Amistad was a Spanish slave ship that was overtaken by the African captives aboard in 1839. The ship was eventually intercepted by the US Navy and the Africans were taken into custody in Connecticut, sparking a legal battle over whether they were considered property or free individuals.