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New Evidence on the Causes of Slave and Crew Mortality in the Atlantic Slave Trade

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  • Steckel, Richard H.
  • Jensen, Richard A.

Abstract

The journals of slave ship surgeons of the 1790s are used to address questions on the relative importance of African conditions versus those on ships, crowding, the effectiveness of Dolben's Act, and the interaction between slave and crew health. In contrast with previous work we find that most slaves who died did so near the middle of the voyage. Crowding was important to health and mortality, but the restrictions of Dolben's Act did little to reduce losses. The crew was largely isolated from patterns of disease among slaves.

Suggested Citation

  • Steckel, Richard H. & Jensen, Richard A., 1986. "New Evidence on the Causes of Slave and Crew Mortality in the Atlantic Slave Trade," The Journal of Economic History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 46(1), pages 57-77, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jechis:v:46:y:1986:i:01:p:57-77_04
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    Cited by:

    1. Peter M. Solar & Klas Rönnbäck, 2015. "Copper sheathing and the British slave trade," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 68(3), pages 806-829, August.
    2. Andrew Marcum & David Skarbek, 2014. "Why didn’t slaves revolt more often during the Middle Passage?," Rationality and Society, , vol. 26(2), pages 236-262, May.
    3. Haines, Robin & McDonald, John & Shlomowitz, Ralph, 2001. "Mortality and Voyage Length in the Middle Passage Revisited," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 38(4), pages 503-533, October.

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