Chapter 1

In Chapter 1 of Bury the Chains, the life of John Newton and the over all slave trade was explored. His life-story was told, the hardships and the triumphs. The author took us through the slave trade, starting from the first traders that went to Africa, going through the trips across the ocean heading to the West Indies, and then ending back in Britain, bringing back enough wealth to keep the whole triangle going again. He follows Newton's life and portrays him as a very typical slave trader, his life was used to show the audience of how exactly one might become and survive as a trader. Along with showing the trader side of slavery, there were some instances of showing how the slave was treated. There were harsh stories of how the slaves were picked up, chained, kept on the ships and sold to their owners. Towards the ending of the chapter the author talked more about how Newton felt about his life experiences, he seemed to think that they were all spiritually tied and that it was by God's grace that he became a flourishing slave trader. Ironic seeing as he had himself been in chains.