Which of the following was a characteristic of the triangular trade?

The characteristic of the triangular trade that highlights its importance is its demonstration of the interconnectedness of Atlantic economies. The triangular trade involved a complex network of trade routes that connected Europe, Africa, and the Americas, facilitating the exchange of goods, enslaved people, and resources.

European merchants shipped manufactured goods to Africa, where they exchanged them for enslaved individuals. Those enslaved people were then transported to the Americas (the Middle Passage), where they were sold to work on plantations producing cash crops like sugar, tobacco, and cotton. The profits from these sales were then used to purchase raw materials from the Americas, which were sent back to Europe. This system illustrated how economic activities were intertwined across different continents, significantly influencing the economic development and socio-political dynamics of the regions involved.

In contrast, the notion that only commodities were traded overlooks the exchange of human lives and cultures, while the statement that it was primarily conducted by the French and Spanish minimizes the significant roles played by English and Portuguese traders. Additionally, stating that the triangular trade ended after the American Revolution does not accurately reflect its sustained operations and adaptations into the 19th century, particularly with the continuation of the slave trade. Thus, understanding the interconnected nature of the triangular trade is crucial to grasp