The conversation between human and AI assistant.
Why were Africans used as slaves instead of Native Americans?
Did economics have a role to play in the enslavement of Africans?
Yes, it did. The profitability of the slave trade played a significant role in the Europeans' decision to utilize African slaves over Native Americans. With already established trade networks with Africa, Europeans found it much more cost-effective to procure African slaves in large numbers and transport them to the Americas. Eventually, the system of slavery became entrenched, and the practice perpetuated even after it was clear that using enslaved labor in the Americas came at great moral cost.