Why do people call the slave trade the triangular trade?

Answer 1

The reason it was called this was because of the trade route used for slavery.

Ships went to Africa to pick up slaves from local tribes then travelled to America to sell the slaves to plantation where they picked up crops such as tobacco & sugar, then crossed the Atlantic again to sell the goods in London.

If you plot these 3 countries and the route travelled on a map you create a triangle. Hence the Golden Triangle or triangle trade route.

Answer 2

The slave trade was called the triangular trade because it involved three routes: from Europe to Africa to trade goods for slaves, from Africa to the Americas to sell the slaves and buy goods like sugar and tobacco, and then from the Americas back to Europe. This triangular route formed the basis of the trade network.