Short note on French Slave Trade
Acute shortage of labour in the French Caribbean colonies led to a triangular slave trade between Europe, America and Africa in the 17th century. French merchants sailed from Bordeaux or Nantes to the African coasts, where they bought slaves from local chiefs. These slaves were then sold to plantation owners in the Caribbean.
Slave labour enabled the Caribbean colonies to meet the growing demand for sugar, coffee and indigo.
The Convention of 1794 passed laws freeing slaves in the French colonies. Slavery was however, reintroduced by Napoleon; but finally abolished in 1848.