Imagine you investigated the role colonial plantations had on the increase of the African slave trade. Which of the following statements would provide the best findings of your investigation? ( 6 points) The demand for less-intensive labor to harvest cash crops increased the African slave trade. The demand to harvest cash crops at a cheap labor price increased the African slave trade. The skilled labor to harvest cash crops increased the African slave trade. Thand to cultivate plantation land decreased so the African slave trade increased to reduce labor costs.

The demand to harvest cash crops at a cheap labor price increased the African slave trade. This statement most accurately reflects the economic motivations behind the slave trade. Plantation owners sought to maximize profits by minimizing labor costs, leading them to rely on enslaved Africans for their agricultural needs. By employing forced labor, they could scale up production of lucrative cash crops like sugar, tobacco, and cotton, which were in high demand across Europe and beyond. Additionally, it's interesting to note that this insatiable demand for cheap labor created a brutal system where millions of Africans were forcibly taken from their homes, leading to significant demographic and cultural shifts. The impact of colonial plantations not only fueled the slave trade but also laid the groundwork for racial inequalities that persist even today, underscoring the lasting legacy of these historical practices.